Bunburyodo Mastery of Literary and Martial Arts

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some frequently asked questions regarding our products and services.  Some of these represent ideas about the most common/traditional designs for our products and their applications, but remember that they are just suggestions.  Feel free to contact us if you have any other questions or need further information.


Q: Which font should I choose for my Japanese name seal?

A: The font that we usually recommend for Japanese name seals (hanko) is the tensho style.  It’s definitely the most commonly seen in this type of traditional seal.

The only exception to this might be the wariin.  Although the tensho style is very common and very appropriate with this type of seal, as well, traditionally the most common font to use with this one is the inzōtai style.  This one works really well for a wariin because the final version of the text is a woven network of highly stylized archaic characters that is reminiscent of a fingerprint in that it is unique to each individual seal and very difficult to duplicate, which makes sense for a seal that was traditionally used as a security measure to verify the authenticity of the document on which it was stamped.

For all seals, we advise against the use of gothic fonts or anything that looks as if it’s been printed as opposed to hand carved (e.g., tensho, inzōtai) or hand brushed (e.g., gyōsho, sōsho).  The reason is that gothic fonts are not traditionally used for artwork, such as seals, in Japan.

Gothic fonts are usually used for everyday writing and communication because they don’t contain serifs, which makes them easy to read.  They’re basically the counterpart to the Arial font of the English-speaking world for things such as e-mails or Word documents.  If we were writing this answer in Japanese, we would probably use a gothic-style font.

Therefore, the use of a gothic font will definitely make your seal have an eclectic, nontraditional look.  We’re not saying this is necessarily a “bad” thing.  We’re just saying that if your goal is for the seal to be set up in a traditional fashion, it’s advisable to avoid a gothic-style font.


Q: Which shape should I choose for my Japanese name seal?

A: This depends on your application.  Following are some general guidelines:

Round/Oval

Use a round or oval seal for personal names or special artwork.  This is the least official of the seal shapes.

The exception to this is the daihyōshain (mentioned below).

Square

Use a square seal for most of your official applications, e.g., organization seal, dōjō seal, personal title seal, etc.

A square seal should also be used by artists for signing artwork (usually with a pseudonym).

Rounded Rectangle (Wariin Only)

This shape is reserved specifically for the wariin, which normally includes the name of the martial arts school or organization.  These are not traditionally meant to be used with a personal name or title but rather with the name of an issuing authority in the form of an organization or other entity.

Circle within a Circle (Daihyōshain Only)

This shape is reserved specifically for the daihyōshain (representative seal), which is used for displaying the name of an organization and its representative within the same seal.


Q: What text should I choose for my Japanese name seal?

A: This depends on your application.  Following are some general guidelines:

Round/Oval

The most common layout for this shape is just to include a simple family name (last name) within the text and nothing more.

The exception to this is the daihyōshain (mentioned below).

Square

If this seal will be used for an organization, dōjō, or other entity, just include the name of the entity.

When using this seal for an individual, it is recommended to include just the title or the title and the person’s family name (last name).  Including a given name (first name) is not recommended but, if desired, is not necessarily an incredibly bad setup either.

In both cases (organizational entity and personal title), these seals will traditionally include the phrase “seal of…” within the text, as well, which we include by default.

An artist's seal used for signing artwork, on the other hand, usually uses a very different layout.  It’s normally just the artist’s name and many times is a pseudonym rather than the artist’s actual name.  Furthermore, most seals of this style try to minimize the number of characters, usually consisting of 1–3, and do not use the “seal of…” portion within the text.

Rounded Rectangle (Wariin Only)

This normally includes the name of the martial arts school or organization as well as the “seal of…” phrase mentioned above.  These are not traditionally meant to be used with a personal name but rather with the name of an issuing authority in the form of an organization or other entity.

Daihyōshain

This is a representative seal and, as such, usually lists the name of the organization being represented around the outer circle and then the representative’s title, and perhaps name, within the inner circle.


Q: Which size should I choose for my Japanese name seal?

A: This depends on your application.  Following are some general guidelines:

Round/Oval

We recommend ½” or ¾” diameter for round seals (½”x¾” for oval).  You might get away with a 1” diameter on a round seal, but this will have a tendency to look too large for the shape.  Therefore, it’s not recommended.

The exception to this is the daihyōshain (mentioned below).

Square

These are trickier as the size of a square seal will depend on its specific application.

For the title and/or name of an individual, a range of ¾”x¾” to 1”x1” would be fairly standard.

If, however, the seal will be used for the name of an organization, school, or other entity, a larger size would be better, 1”x1” to 2”x2” being an appropriate range.  Take care once you get up around two inches or greater, though, as this can start to look pretty excessive if not applied in an appropriate context.

The dimensions of an artist’s seal should be a little more limited, ranging from 1”x1” to 1½”x1½”.

Rounded Rectangle (Wariin Only)

A 1:3 width-to-height ratio is used for the wariin, so it’s available in two sizes (½”x1½” or ¾”x2¼”), but we usually strongly recommend that people choose the smaller of the two, which is the ½”x1½” seal.  We would really only suggest the larger size for huge documents, i.e., larger than 11”x17”.

Daihyōshain

Given that its application is similar to that of the square seal, the daihyōshain‘s measurements will ride more in the neighborhood of the dimensions of a square seal but with a slightly more limited range (1” to 1½” in diameter).


Q: Should I get a Japanese name seal with standard contrast (red characters on a white field) or reverse contrast (white characters on a red field)?

A: A seal used for signing official documents (such as rank certificates) is more commonly displayed in standard contrast (red characters on a white field).  This is a minor issue, though, given that it's not difficult to find instructors and officers who mark official documents using a reverse-contrast seal, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.

An artist's seal, however, almost universally tends to be rendered in a reverse contrast (white characters on a red field).


Q: What is the purpose of the wariin, and is it necessary to use it on an official document?

A: The wariin is never a necessity.  At one point in history, it served the purpose of acting as a security measure because half of it would be stamped on the certificate, and the other half would be stamped on a page in the instructor’s record book so that a given certificate’s authenticity could be verified if put in question.  This is why it is sometimes referred to as a security seal.

In modern times, however, most instructors don’t keep paper records as almost everything is kept electronically, so the wariin has lost its practical application.  However, some organizations like to stamp the bottom half of a wariin on the certificate even though the top half is not really stamped on anything just because it gives the certificate an authentic traditional feel.

In other words, the choice to use a wariin or not is entirely up to the individual organization and its preferences.  While it does contribute to the overall traditional feel of the document, it’s not essential to it.


Q: Is there any ink included with my Japanese name seal?

A: Unfortunately, by default there is no ink included with your Japanese name seal.  However, we do carry ink tins, which you can add to your order.  They’re at the bottom of our Japanese name seal page.

Note: Be sure to order an ink tin that is large enough to allow your Japanese name seal to fit inside (dimensions and approximate seal size ranges are given beside each option).


Q: I’ve received my Japanese name seal in the form of a rubber stamp, but how do I know which way to hold it when making the impression?

A: You should make the impression with the stamp label facing you.  Another point of reference is the black wooden handle.  This handle is flat on one side, and it’s the flat side that should face you when making the impression.


Q: What information do I need to provide in order to have my martial arts certificate designed?

A: We do have some standard guidelines that we generally set up; however, we can technically make the certificate say just about anything you like.

The information that we generally need is as follows:

The last three items (marked with an asterisk) apply only in cases in which the document is to be issued to one person on one specific occasion.  For general templates to be copied and issued on different occasions, disregard these last few items.


Q: What’s the difference between a custom template and a fully individualized certificate?

A: A custom template includes set printed information regarding art, style, school/organization name, instructor name, and instructor rank.  Additionally, there are blank lines for filling in the specific student’s name, rank, and date of promotion, which allows the document to be used universally for any student being tested.  You simply fill in the blanks and then sign and seal the certificate at the time of testing.

A fully individualized certificate, on the other hand, is tailored specifically to a particular student, which means that all information (i.e., art, style, rank, school/organization name, instructor name, instructor rank, student’s name, and date of promotion) would come already printed on the document.  In this instance, there would be no blanks to fill out.  You would just sign and seal each document before awarding it to the individual students.

Here are some things to consider about the above options:

The main advantage to the custom template is that it has the lower price tag.  There are potential future savings, as well, given that the fee for designing the template is a one-time expense.  So, any extra copies you might need in the future could be purchased from us at $6.00 each (or even less if purchased in bulk as we offer bulk discounts).  Alternatively, you could take your master template to a local print shop that might offer a color copying service.

The main disadvantage to the custom template is that, although it is customized to a great extent, it’s not tailor made on as much of a personal level as the other option due to the fact that each student’s name, rank, and promotion date will have to be handwritten on the blank lines at the time of promotion.  One note on this, though, is that there is the possibility of printing the names and dates on the lines yourself with a laser printer; however, this is probably only feasible if you order a letter-sized (8½”x11”) document.

The main advantage to the fully individualized certificate is the individual personalization that it offers.  That is, each student’s certificate has been printed specifically for him and bears all of his custom information.  You just sign it and seal it, and you’re good to go, which means that it also offers convenience as far as the instructor is concerned.

The main disadvantage to the fully individualized certificate is the price tag.  This would be significantly higher for this type of document given that it must be individually designed and printed for every student, which makes bulk ordering impossible.  The good news is that going this route frequently qualifies for a package discount (due to the common necessity of ordering several of these within the same order).  See package page for details on package discounts.


Q: How do I fill out a martial arts certificate that has Japanese on one side and English on the other?

A: In the bilingual format, we actually design the Japanese text in such a way that it will require no modification for individual students.  It will be custom made for your organization, which means that it will list things like the name of your organization and/or school and the name and title of the issuing officer/instructor in Japanese.  However, information that is specific to the individual receiving the certificate, such as the student’s name and rank and the date of issue, is not normally included in the Japanese portion.  Rather, the Japanese text is tailored to refer back to this information as it is listed in the English section.  Then, of course, you can fill in the English portion appropriately.  It is possible to order certificates that are fully customized with every detail of a specific student’s promotion in Japanese, but these must be purchased individually for each student.


Q: Which font should I choose for my martial arts certificate?

A: Personal preference is definitely a significant factor, but there are some traditional guidelines to one extent or another.

The best fonts to use for a certificate are the ones that are categorized on the website as “calligraphic brush scripts,” and out of those three options, the most popular is Gyōsho 1 (the first one on the left side).

The other fonts are mainly used for when you’re going for a very specific look or context.  For example, Sōsho (Grass Script) is basically meant to be pure art without regard for whether or not it’s actually legible (in fact, most native Japanese speakers can’t event read a sōsho-style font unless they’ve been specifically trained in that art form).  The handwritten scripts are intended to give a more block-style look to the text, but this is not really that common for martial arts certificates as they’re usually supposed to be written out with a brush rather than a pen, marker, etc.


Q: If I order an electronic martial arts certificate, can it be created with fields that I can fill out on my computer and print them out that way rather than having to handwrite the information in after the fact?

A: Yes, if you have the Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is a free download from Adobe’s website, then you will be able to view, fill in blank lines, and print the PDF document.  In order to modify anything else about the document or save a modified version of it, however, you would need the full version of Adobe Acrobat, which is also available on that same website but is not a free product.

Also, consider the following:

The PDF document that we send to you will have blanks for you to fill in electronically and print out.  This is certainly a potential timesaver, and it definitely makes for a more uniform look.  However, if you’re going to print anything larger than a letter-sized (8½”x11”) certificate, you’re either going to need a printer capable of handling larger sizes or a local print shop who can print these for you, which will be an added expense.


Q: Should I issue a different style of certificate depending on whether my students are being tested for a dan or a kyū promotion?

A: This is largely up to you.  The difference between a dan and a kyū certificate is really whatever you want it to be.

That said, we will add that some of the common distinctions that are often seen in customer orders are as follows:

Note: None of these general points are either set in stone or dictated by any strict protocol.  They just represent common tendencies amongst instructors.


Q: What’s the deal with the phoenix border blanks?  Why don’t they have any text on them?

A: With respect to the blank phoenix border paper, some instructors already have an electronic document layout set up and only wish to purchase quality paper with a preprinted border on which to print their text.  This is why we started offering these blanks.  We had several requests for them and, at the time, didn’t offer anything like this.

Having the whole certificate printed up with the border included is the more logical option for the instructor who doesn’t already have a layout set up, and this is definitely the more common of the two situations.

As mentioned above, we started offering the blanks due to requests that would come in from instructors who didn’t want to have to purchase the whole text layout and everything just to get the border, and we can appreciate that.


Q: Can you add my existing logo to a martial arts certificate or Japanese name seal?

A: Absolutely!

If you already have a logo design in the form of a high-resolution electronic image that you can send to us and we can add to the certificate or seal layout, there’s no extra charge for incorporating your design.  The cost would just be whatever the price of the custom certificate or seal itself is.

If, however, you would need us to design your high-resolution electronic logo image for you, we’re more than happy to assist you with that.  There would be an additional labor cost for the design process, though, and this usually runs somewhere between $60.00 and $100.00, depending on the complexity of the design (which determines how much time will need to be spent on the project).


Q: Can you incorporate an image as a watermark in the background of my certificate?

A: Yes, we can set you up with something like that, as well.  Pricing would follow the same guidelines as the above explanation.


Q: What file format should I use for sending you my logo design concept so that you can design a high-quality logo and/or incorporate it into my martial arts certificate or Japanese name seal?

A: Most designs rendered as vector images and sent to us as such, e.g., AI, EPS, or PDF images will not incur an additional design charge given that they’re usually ready to incorporate into your certificate or seal with no additional labor.

Lower-resolution images, however, such as JPG, PNG, etc., will most likely incur an additional charge as they will probably need to be touched up in the best case scenario or redesigned from scratch in the worst case scenario.

If a low-resolution image is all that you have available, we can certainly still work with it.  In fact, if the situation dictates it, we can work from your verbal description of what you would like the logo to look like.  Send us (or tell us) what you’ve got, and we’ll take a look at how much of it can be adapted/revised/touched up versus how much of it we’ll have to redo from scratch.

A note regarding JPG images: These can look pretty decent in their electronic form; however, they’re fairly low-quality as far as printed matter is concerned.  Additionally, they don’t support transparency, which hinders the process somewhat.  So, in most cases in which we’re working from an image in JPG format, we usually end up having to create large portions of the design from scratch, just using the JPG file as a visual guide rather than actually working off of it.


Q: What file format do you use for the finished electronic certificates, seals, and logo designs?

A: Unless you request otherwise, all artwork is rendered in PDF format by default, which gives it the most universal utility, but we can render it in whatever format you prefer, e.g., PNG, JPG, etc.  One thing to keep in mind, though, is that, depending on the file type, the artwork may or may not be as crisp as the PDF version.


Q: Should I include my title of sensei, shihan, senpai, etc., on my martial arts certificate or Japanese name seal?

A: We understand the desire to opt for the simplicity of the title sensei for direct (or indirect) address because it forgoes a lot of the “pomp” that’s inherent in the use of many of the other titles.  However, we strongly advise against using the title sensei on any certificates or seals for the following reasons:

The thing about a title such as sensei is that, according to traditional Japanese protocol, it should be left up to other people to refer to an instructor as sensei.  Printing this kind of title on a document or stamp will seem arrogant to native Japanese speakers.  We know that’s not the intent, but that will be the perception nonetheless.

Additionally, for the purposes of signing a traditional Japanese document, sensei is not an appropriate title as it does not designate the actual position within the martial arts school or organization of the person who’s issuing the rank.

The authority to issue a rank is found rather in the position held by the issuer.  Therefore, a better option would be to use the title that actually states what position the person holds within the organization, e.g., president, chairman, dōjō director, branch director, regional director, head instructor, treasurer, secretary, etc.

Japanese titles can be seen as being grouped into four different categories.  What follows is a very simplistic overview of these classifications:

Position

Examples: kaichō, kanchō, shibuchō, etc.

This indicates the official position of the person within an art’s organizational structure, such as the president, regional director, or head of a particular dōjō.  It is the most important of the titles and is usually listed first, often on a separate line if space allows, when signing a certificate.

Shōgō Honorific

Examples: hanshi, kyōshi, renshi, etc.

This indicates an honorific title that has been officially bestowed and, if included, is usually listed second when signing a certificate.

Rank

Examples: hachidan, nanadan, rokudan, etc.

This is pretty straightforward.  It indicates the person’s rank and, if included, is usually listed third when signing a certificate.

Common Honorific

Examples: sensei, shihan, senpai, etc.

This is a title that is normally used as a polite suffix to or in lieu of a person’s name in spoken or written address, whether direct or indirect.  It is not used when signing documents.  One possible exception to this is the term shihan due to the fact that it can actually indicate an officially issued title in some organizations and thus at times blurs the lines between common honorifics and shōgō honorifics; however, this should be considered the exception and not the rule.

Having said all that, we’ll say this: The specifics of your martial arts certificates and Japanese name seals are ultimately your decision, and we respect that.  We can technically word a document anyway you request, without regard to the above; therefore, if you would like to proceed with the use of a title such as sensei on your martial arts certificate or Japanese name seal, we will be more than happy to oblige.  We just usually offer little suggestions along the way regarding traditional structure of the text in case they might prove helpful.


Q: What’s the difference between a translation and a transliteration of my name?

A: Following is brief explanation of the difference between these two methods.

Translation

We research the meaning of your name and translate that meaning into Japanese characters that share the same meaning and are commonly used in personal names.  This method will produce a result that means the same thing as your actual name but will not be pronounced anything like what your name actually sounds like.  Instead, it will sound like a native Japanese name.

Note: This is not the recommend method for rendering non-Japanese names into the Japanese language.

Transliteration

We reproduce the actual sounds of your name using the Japanese phonetic syllabary.  This method will produce a result that is as close in pronunciation to your original name as it can possibly be while still remaining within the parameters of the sounds of the Japanese language.  These characters will have no meaning whatsoever as they are merely sounds that try to approximate the actual pronunciation of your name as closely as possible.  This will also be instantly recognized by all native Japanese speakers as a foreign name and is generally their preference when dealing with foreign individuals.

Note: We always recommend transliteration over translation of personal names as it is generally more readily accepted by native Japanese speakers.  Actual translations of the meaning of a foreigner’s name are normally seen only in specific contexts and many times are used as a pseudonym for artistic or literary purposes rather than being used as the person’s actual name.


Q: Will I get to see my martial arts certificate or Japanese name seal and make sure it’s to my liking before it ships out?

A: Yes, we always send an electronic low-resolution proof for you to review before anything is actually printed or engraved.  This will give you the opportunity to let us know if it’s what you had in mind or to request changes if necessary.

The designs are actually put into production until we have your approval on a final design.


Q: What kind of turnaround time should I expect on my order?

A: We will usually tell you to expect your product to ship out within two weeks after payment has been confirmed; however, we can turn it around faster than that in most cases.


Q: May I resell custom documents or other products that I have commissioned from Azami Press?

A: No, any product purchased from Azami Press is sold with the understanding that the customer is to use it for issuing and sealing certificates within his school and/or organization.  This in no way implies a release of any item to be resold as a product in and of itself.

That said, there is no restriction on making high-quality copies of any product sold by Azami Press providing they are used within the customer’s school and/or organization and are not made available for resale.


Q: Do you charge sales tax?

A: We are based in the state of Indiana; therefore, we only charge state sales tax on orders that ship to Indiana (7%).


Q: What do you charge for shipping?

A: Our rates are as follows, and a UPS tracking number is provided for all domestic orders.

Domestic

Domestic shipping on all orders is $8.00 within the continental United States but is waived on orders for exclusively electronic products and on all orders over $100.00.

International

International shipping on all orders is $20.00 but is waived on orders for exclusively electronic products.


Q: Do you offer any discounts?

A: We have a few available opportunities for discounts.

First of all, domestic shipping fees ($8.00) are waived for all orders totaling $100.00 or more.

Secondly, multiple copies of set designs—these are products that either don’t require any customization at all, such as phoenix border blanks, or products that you’ve previously commissioned and paid for, such as extra copies of certificate templates—can be ordered in bulk quantities at discounted rates.  The more you order, the greater the discount.  Bulk orders are priced according to the following schedule:

Standard text weight paper

1–9 sheets: US$5.00 per sheet
10–24 sheets: US$4.25 per sheet
25–49 sheets: US$4.00 per sheet
50–99 sheets: US$3.75 per sheet
100 sheets and up: US$3.50 per sheet

Cover Stock

1–9 sheets: US$6.00 per sheet
10–24 sheets: US$5.10 per sheet
25–49 sheets: US$4.80 per sheet
50–99 sheets: US$4.50 per sheet
100 sheets and up: US$4.20 per sheet

Finally, there are further discounts available by ordering any of our discounted packages, which include a combination of 3, 5, or 7 qualifying seals and/or certificates.  Discounts are applied according to the following schedule:

Sensei Package (5% discount on any combination of 3 seals or certificates)
Dōjō Package (10% discount on any combination of 5 seals or certificates)
Kyōkai Package (15% discount on any combination of 7 seals or certificates)

Note: most combinations of these packages will put you over the mark for qualifying for free domestic shipping, as well, so it’s not uncommon to end up getting both of these discounts on the same order.