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Is it best to simply use only the first name (in my cousin's case,
Rochelle/ロシイル), only the last name Stout (スタウト, I believe?)), or some sort of
variation of initials? And if initials are okay, what sort of formatting is
acceptable?
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2018-01-30T01:56:03.993
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katakana names
How exactly is a foreign name written on a hanko?
A hanko is supposed to be a unique signature, you can style it however you
want as long as it's readable. Romaji, katakana or hirakana - but don't make
up kanji unless you officially have that kanji registered as your by-name.

Read the part about Jitsu-in:
<http://www.city.kakamigahara.lg.jp/international/english/3101/003106.html>

> As a rule, you can only register your name as stated on your alien
> registration card. You can register a stamp of your family name, given name
> or both. The stamp should print your name in the alphabet, katakana or
> hiragana. You can register your name in kanji ONLY if you first register the
> kanji name as a by-name first. This can also be done at the citizens’
> service department.
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2018-01-30T02:23:25.137
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In some cases is better ask to you city office which one is better, in my case
the city office accept my hanko in katakana and i use that one for bank and
everything that i need. In the case of my wife (half-japanese) she use the
hanko with her family name in Kanji without any problem.
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2018-01-30T08:05:43.117
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My experience as an American living in Japan is that you are not expected to
use hanko. My signature in the hanko space on documents (bank and other) was
regularly accepted. (Yes, I did have to kind of squish my signature in, almost
like initializing instead of signing.) I have lived and worked in Japan
multiple times over the years, but have never had long-term resident status or
citizenship, so your situation may be different. But if you ask, you may not
have a need for a hanko.
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