New J-Bank Account: Inkan Necessary?

[GuyJean]

Do all banks now require an Inkan to open an account?

I have an existing account at WaterWhore bank, but my employer wants me to open a new one since my existing account has an "establishment's" name, not just my personal name: TokyoDV Mike Hunt

I tell them TokyoDV isn't an "establishment". It's the name I use to get free-lance work and a domain, that's it.. And besides, my name IS on the account; TokyoDV Mike Hunt.. This causes confusion, teeth sucking, and head tilting.

So, I say what the f*ck. I'll open another worthless Japanese bank account to appease the economic stifling wa.

But then, when I try to open a new account at the same branch where I have my current existing account, the mole-faced helper lady cock-blocks me!

Mike Hunt: Hello, I'd like to open a regular account.
Mole Face: OK. You have an Inkan, right?
Mike Hunt: Um, no I don't, but I'll just sign for the account.
Mole Face: Oh, we can't open an account without an Inkan.
Mike Hunt: Well that's how I opened my other previous account. (quickly show bank book)
Mole Face:... Um, just a moment. (takes bank book, leaves to have 'wa disturbance' meeting)

Mole Face: (returns wearing Tatemai smile) I'm sorry, we don't accept signatures anymore.
Mike Hunt: So what should I do? Gaijin don't usually have an Inkan. And besides; my name is Hunt, not 'Hunto'.
Mole Face: You can have one made.
Mike Hunt: (plaster Tatemai smile on face) OK, thank you. (leave smiling, but shaking head)

When did policies change? Is this true for all banks?

Thanks, in advance, for any wisdom on this.

GJ

[gomichild]

<insert insightful pre-mangled post here>

[Steve Bildermann]

[gomichild]

OI GJ STAY AWAY FROM MY IDENTITY!!!!

[GuyJean]

OI GJ STAY AWAY FROM MY IDENTITY!!!!

That was totally strange!!

Did we change bodies for a second? (Actually, I figured out what happened. check your PM box)..

Sorry! You can do it me too, if you want..

GJ

[gomichild]

You know for a second there I had an intense urge to scratch my balls....

(I saw the PM sunshine - hahahaha it's still early in the morning you are forgiven )

[GuyJean]

You know for a second there I had an intense urge to scratch my balls..

Boobies are cool..

GJ

[GuyJean]

However Mizuho Bank has had so much trouble meshing the disparate computer systems that they have had to fall back to inkan and ledger for more than 60% of their transactions.

Yeah, I remember that debacle. What a mess.

You will have to get an inkan to open an account. It's doesn't have to be registered and it can be in Katakana if you want.

Arrrgh.. It's not the money but the principle; My passport, Gaijin Card, and driver's license all have my signature.. WITH photo. A rubber stamp that can be stolen, will be only used once, and is unregistered is more secure!? Oh, yeah.. It's Japan; safety country by way of common wa, not common sense..

Thanks Steve! Again, the answer man speaks.. You even included a little history!

GJ

[Steve Bildermann]

Arrrgh.. It's not the money but the principle

LOL - first at the pun.

Secondly GJ you've been in Japan long enough to know that uttering that particular phrase marks you as a dead man walking.

Keep that up and you'll be jumping up and down at the immigration shouting 'why can't they do things properly like they do in America'

My my GJ living in Japan all this time and saying stuff like 'it's the principle'

.....hooo hooo hoooo (Steve walks away shaking his head and chuckling to himself)

[GuyJean]

Secondly GJ you've been in Japan long enough to know that uttering that particular phrase marks you as a dead man walking.

Yeah, I know.. See, I consider FG my cathardic release. I let the Honei flow here so the Tatemai chains don't whip me into a docile eunuch.

Keep that up and you'll be jumping up and down at the immigration shouting 'why can't they do things properly like they do in America'

Bullshit beauracracy is bullshit beauracracy, no matter what the language or country. Although, I can usually figure out the reasoning behind something not working efficiently in the States. Here, I have to search a little harder.. The Fuji merger mess, as you pointed out, is the reason for the bank taking a step backwards in new account policies.. I now know.

(Steve walks away shaking his head and chuckling to himself)

Hey! I did the same thing when mole-faced helper woman turned me down!! A real American would've demanded to know why the bank's policy was changed and sued for discrimation! I turned and walked away, like a good robot. Give me some credit!

GJ

[Steve Bildermann]

I turned and walked away, like a good robot. Give me some credit

In life some days we're a fly and somedays we're a windshield. In Japan it's the former more often than the latter.

[GuyJean]

Hanko & Kanji House

It is our supreme joy to satisfy our customers perfectly.
We offer our customers unique and delightful products from Japan as a reliable shop.

Thanks Ultra! But for a minute there, I thought I was in J-List's vibrator section..

GJ

[Big Booger]

I bought a self-inking type about 3 weeks ago. Took them 4 days to get it in as it was an unusual Kanji. Cost about 2000 yen.

[Blah Pete]

I bought a self-inking type about 3 weeks ago. Took them 4 days to get it in as it was an unusual Kanji. Cost about 2000 yen.

Don't get the self-inking type, or Shachihata. Some banks and business don't consider them legal. I had a bank account at the old Sumitomo Bank and they wouldn't accept the self-inking type.
Get a wood pr plastic cheap one and you won't have problems.

[Big Booger]

good point pete. I have the cheapo wooden one. got the self inker for everday stamping, takyubin, bills, stamp book at work etc..

[kotatsuneko]

theres that other thing you can get also isnt there?

i mean, the wife leaves a different stamp with her name, but not how its registered for stuff like postal deliveries etc - i get the impression this is an everyday thing here, also these days it seems most burgulars are only after stuff like id papers and stamps, so if youre unregistered stamp gets half inched you wont have lots of bills to have sorted out in your name..

sure mr B et al will have the name for this alt stamp..

[GridReaper]

Once you get your inkan, how about stamping the forms upside down as a silent protest?

[GuyJean]

Once you get your inkan, how about stamping the forms upside down as a silent protest?

He, he.. Yeah, actually since there are so many different pronunciations of the same Kanji, I was thinking of getting an Inkan that can be read as Koizumi, Ishihara, Tanaka, or Takanohana.. As well as my last name.

Unfortunately, my Kanji isn't that good. Looks like I'll have to use one of my trusty, evil Japanese buddies. Evil Japanese friends are good..

GJ

[gkanai]

Fwiw, I have been able to open an account at Sumitomo Mitsui Ginko without an inkan, only my signature. Also all my other services, cable internet, keitai, gas, water, electric, etc. ALL done with signature and NOT inkan. Even my Meugro-ku residence documents were done without inkan. So there's a data point for you. Inkans are not necessary.

[kamome]

GJ, did you try opening your account at Citibank? Last I heard, no inkans are necessary (they weren't when I got my account).

[cstaylor]

Just get an inkan, you big wuss.

[kamome]

[quote="cstaylor"]Just get an inkan, you big wuss. ]

Fight the power, dude! Don't get an inkan!

[GuyJean]

Fight the power, dude! Don't get an inkan!

I fought, and prevailed!

I found two banks in my neighborhood that allow signatures: Sumitomo and Tokyo Mitzubishi.

Sumitomo was about the nicest banking experience I've ever had]Just get an inkan, you big wuss. [/quote]
Who's the wuss now, eunuch-boy?..



GJ

[stuckinkysuhu]

Also if you're a gaijin with a romaji name (ie you're not chinese/korean) then if you put kanji on your inkan, a lot of places don't like it even if its ateji. My friend made one but the bank wouldn't take it and told him to make one in romaji (yes its possible) or katakana.

[cstaylor]

Fight the power, dude! Don't get an inkan!

I fought, and prevailed!

Oh, c'mon, you just found a gaijin-friendly bank.

Just get an inkan, you big wuss. ]
Who's the wuss now, eunuch-boy?..

As someone with a crappy signature, for me the inkan is a big timesaver.

[cstaylor]

Also if you're a gaijin with a romaji name (ie you're not chinese/korean) then if you put kanji on your inkan, a lot of places don't like it even if its ateji. My friend made one but the bank wouldn't take it and told him to make one in romaji (yes its possible) or katakana.

Hmmmm... must be a hick bank or something. My gaijin card has my name in katakana, but my registered inkan is in kanji, no problems at all.

[AssKissinger]

I do live in Hicksville for sure but I've had my 'kanji hanko' refused and questioned more than once. Strange but true. They like my given name spelled out in gaijin correct katakana.

[cstaylor]

I do live in Hicksville for sure but I've had my 'kanji hanko' refused and questioned more than once. Strange but true. They like my given name spelled out in gaijin correct katakana.

Hmmm.... if that happens to me, I'll let you know. Is it the bank refusing it? Isn't it registered on your bank book?

[AssKissinger]

I do live in Hicksville for sure but I've had my 'kanji hanko' refused and questioned more than once. Strange but true. They like my given name spelled out in gaijin correct katakana.

Hmmm.... if that happens to me, I'll let you know. Is it the bank refusing it? Isn't it registered on your bank book?

Yeah, the bank is cool. They just said kind of like, "What's this?" Because I translated my family name into Japanese so my hanko reads 'fubuki' which sounds like an enka singer or porn star or something but I said it's my name translated into Japanese and they said ok. As long as when I do business at the bank my hanko matches the one the bank book. It's the delivery people who don't like it. Recently, I just sign for everything anyway but before the mailman did refuse it.

[stuckinkysuhu]

Yeah, it's probably not a matter of the official rules, just individuals thinking that its not right for a white guy to have kanji on his hanko. Kinda stupid, but in my case anyway it was easier just to go the katakana route than trying to cut through all the red tape.