The Japanese emperors , shoguns and samurais each had their own personal seal pressed onto edicts and other public documents to show authenticity and authority .
In Japan , seals ( hanko ) have historically been used to identify individuals involved in government and trading from ancient times .
The Japan emperors , shoguns and samurais each had their own personal seal pressed onto edicts and other public documents to show authenticity and authority .
In Japan , seals ( hanko ) have historically been used to identify individuals involved in government and trading from ancient times .