Profile

Nice to meet you, everyone. I’m Peter, Hanko(name stamp) artist and an evangelist dedicated to sharing Japanese wisdom with the world through the art of Hanko.

I began my journey into the world of Hanko in 2020—the very same year the "digitization" and "seal-less" movement started gaining momentum in Japan. Since then, I’ve been deepening my knowledge and craft.

Those of you visiting this page might be asking yourselves one question:

"How on earth does a Hanko connect to global peace?"

That’s a natural reaction! It’s not an obvious connection at first glance. Let me explain it to you step by step.

At the core of my work is this: 

Helping you truly connect with your name

Let me ask you—do you like your name? Or perhaps you dislike it, or feel indifferent?

In the world of Hanko, many artisans use "Stroke Counting" to judge a name’s fortune. I used to be one of them. However, I began to have serious doubts about this practice. Stroke counting labels names as "lucky" or "unlucky" (good or bad). I saw friends suffering because they were told their names were "bad," and others who changed their names legally only to find that nothing in their lives actually changed.

I started wondering: "Why should we label someone’s precious name as 'good' or 'bad'?"

As this question grew in my heart, I decided to stop stroke-counting appraisals once and for all. Searching for a different way, I finally discovered the philosophy of the late Master Hiroshi Yamashita. He developed a method to decode the unique "mission" hidden within a name by analyzing the spiritual meaning of name's every single sound.

And the philosophy of this decode way is

Your name tells your mission to you

It might sound like a simple play on words. However, in the Japanese language, there is a profound connection between words that share the same sound. In fact, if you search for the phrase "Your Name is Your Mission" (Shimei-wa-Shimei) in Japanese, you’ll see how widely this concept is embraced. We are all born onto this Earth with a specific mission, yet we forget it the moment we arrive. Life is a journey to remember that mission.

While pursuing your own dreams is important, it is equally vital to respond to what others ask of you and bring them joy. This is what I call a "Mission." As shown in the diagram below, the mission you chose before birth is hidden within the sounds of your name (learn more in this video). This is why I offer this "name reading" as a complimentary service to all my Hanko customers.

As you know, there hasn’t been a single second of total peace on this planet; conflict is always present somewhere. These wars start from small quarrels, and those quarrels stem from comparing ourselves to others.

I believe that if each of us truly felt, "I am living my unique mission," the need for comparison would disappear. As more people embrace their own path, it will naturally lead to global peace.　Furthermore, since the Japanese language is the foundation of all languages, I can decode the missions hidden even in non-Japanese names.

There is no moment where we face our own name more directly than when using a Hanko. A Hanko is a tool that reminds us of the mission we so often forget in our busy daily lives.

Moreover,

Japanese language and Mithology can change the world!

At the core of this decode way are the specific meanings and functions of each Japanese sound, the spiritual philosophy of Kotodama, and the wisdom found in Japanese mythology.

In my 20s, I actually hated Japan—which is why I "escaped" overseas. However, when I first encountered these teachings, I had an intuitive flash of certainty: "This is the wisdom that will bring peace to the world!"

Today, I don't just offer name readings; I also host lectures on these topics both in Japan and abroad. (And I am excited to announce that the English version of my course will be released in the autumn of 2026!)

In Japan, a land that carries the memories of the Jomon period—an era said to have remained peaceful for over 10,000 years—the more I learn, the more I discover a wealth of wisdom for peace that stands in direct contrast to conflict. I am certain that Japan is a country capable of contributing not only to world peace but to the peace of the entire Earth, transcending human boundaries. My mission in this life is to spark interest in Japan through the culture of Hanko and to share this profound "Wisdom of Wa" (Harmony) with the world.

That being said, I have found myself questioning certain aspects of traditional Hanko as they exist today. My biggest concern lies in their design, so

I only make Hanko you'll love pressing, designed together with you.

As you can see from my art works, our Hankos feature one-of-a-kind designs that you won’t find anywhere else. This is only possible because of the extensive consultations I have with each customer before the actual carving begins (you can see the full process from order to delivery here). Since a Hanko is such a significant personal item, I approach its creation with the same care and dedication as building a home.

After receiving an order, I listen closely to the customer’s vision, their story, and their specific design preferences—such as a "soft and gentle feel." Based on this, I provide at least three distinct design proposals, each with a completely different personality. Because my customers can choose their favorite from these diverse options, they are always truly delighted with our Hankos.

If you have any questions, no matter how small, please feel free to contact me. Thank you.

shop owner Hanko artist ''Peter''