Hasta La Ideas

When I lived in Japan, everyone carried what’s known as a hanko, a personal seal that serves as your signature. When filling out paperwork at the bank, for instance, the bank provides a red inkpad and you stamp your hanko to authorize the document.

The high-end hanko below is called Mirain. It’s made using wire EDM, yielding this ooh-ahh effect:

This being Japan, the packaging has been carefully considered.

The manufacturer is Yamanishi-based Iwai Press Co. Here’s how they make them:

They’re pretty pricey: $1,100 a pop!