Kamakura Hanko, a long-established seal store in Kamakura, Japan, and a couple of first-class seal technicians First-class seal technician and his wife won the gold medal at the "China Seal Competition"!

Tradition to the future! A step forward in connecting technology and aspiration to the next generation

2025.11.21 09:30

鎌倉はんこ

Mitsuhiro Tsukino and his wife Chieko, representatives of the long-established seal store "Kamakura Hanko" in Kamakura, received the highest gold medals for both husband and wife at the "China Seal Competition", a domestic competition for the purpose of studying basic seal engraving techniques.

「中国印章競技会」W金賞を受賞

Gold medals at the China Seal Competition

Mr. and Mrs. Tsukino are one of only five couples in the country to hold the nationally recognized First Class Seal Engraving Technician certification. With a sense of mission to pass on this rare skill to the future, we continue to study hard every day.

This award once again attests to the value of seals as "handmade art" produced by craftsmen and the importance of passing on traditional Japanese culture. We sincerely hope that this result will encourage aspiring young people to pursue this profound path of craftsmanship. In addition, this is the first time for the competition to take the form of a "Couple Gold Award". We are very honored that the competition recognized our achievements as a result of our diligent daily technical study.

中国印章競技会　金賞受賞

Gold Medal in the China Seal Competition

Summary of the award: For the first time in the competition's history, a husband and wife were both awarded Gold Medals.

Gold Prize in the wooden seal category: Mr. Masahiro Tsukino

　The silver medal was also awarded to a small seal in the Mokkuchi Kakushi Seal category.

Gold Prize in the Mokkuchi Kakushi seal Kojirushi division: Chieko Tsukino

The competition was attended by skilled craftspeople and young artists alike, and the winners were selected from among 121 works in five divisions. The technique of hand-finishing characters in woodcut engraving requires a high level of artistry and accuracy, and is an area where skilled craftsmanship shines. 2.

2. key points of the interview: desire to pass on culture

(1) "Proof of a Rare Technique": Preciousness of Craftsmanship and Inheritance to the Future

The first-class seal engraving technician certification held by Mr. and Mrs. Tsukino is a national certification authorized by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare.

This certification requires at least seven years of work experience and is the most difficult skill test, with an examination held only once every three years. Fewer than five couples in Japan hold this certification, and this skill is truly a treasure of Japan. We feel the weight of passing on this skill to the next generation with responsibility. The story of a couple who continues to improve their skills in the midst of the headwinds of digitalization is an excellent opportunity to convey the value of "Japanese craftsmanship that is being lost" and the beauty of the artisan way of life.

(2) "Paradox in the Digital Age": Artistry of Handicraft and Pride of Craftsmanship

The value of "authentic seals" made by craftsmen stands out precisely because of the current trend toward "de-hanko" (de-hanko).

Winning a gold medal in a competition is an important step toward establishing the status of seals as not just office supplies, but as works of art and traditional crafts that can be used for a lifetime. It inspires the aspirations of many craftsmen who take pride in their work of seal engraving.

(3) Specific Efforts for Kamakura Hanko: Activities to Pass on Technology and Culture

Thoroughness of technique and quality: In order to maintain technical skills and guarantee the highest quality, we strictly adhere to a complete appointment system, limiting the number of seals we can produce in a day to only five. This is proof of our responsibility as a craftsman to maintain the technical standards of a first-class technician and to treat each piece of work with the utmost sincerity.

International cultural outreach: We hold more than 500 English-language workshops for foreigners each year, and we are committed to promoting Japan's seal culture overseas.

Tradition and innovation: Although we have been in business for three generations, we are constantly creating new values, such as the award-winning Kamakura carved seals from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

印章彫刻

Seal engraving

3. comment from Mr. Masahiro Tsukino, President

We are very honored to receive the prestigious award of Gold Medal in the "China Seal Competition," a national competition for married couples. I am especially grateful that this is the first time for a husband and wife couple to win the gold medal in the competition, and I am sure it is a testament to our diligent and steady technical study. I am strongly motivated to let many people in Japan and around the world know the warmth, artistry, and cultural significance of craftsmen's precise handiwork, which digital technology can never produce, and to pass on this wonderful craftsman culture to future generations. We hope that this news will serve as a catalyst to nurture young budding seal carvers to pursue a career in seal engraving."

一級技能印章彫刻士