We keep a nicer hanko in a case for forms; the Shachihata lives by the door for deliveries. After years of use, the case ink dried and stamps came out faint. A new case felt pricey, so I hunted for fixes.

Swap in a 100-yen sponge from another hanko case

100-yen shops (Daiso, etc.) sell hanko cases. The red sponge pops out with a toothpick or tweezers; move it into your case. I don’t sweat ink quality—just needed a clear imprint. Sizes vary, but a random one fit my “standard” case.

They even sell refill sponges at 100-yen shops

I saw 4-packs in the hanko section at Can Do. One lasts a while, so extras pile up, but good to know. Daiso/Seria might have them too; I’ll check next visit.

Refill sponges online can be as cheap as ¥7

They’re tiny, so price makes sense. Shipping (¥120+ by mail) makes 100-yen shops more practical.

Stationery or hanko shops also sell them

Not at convenience stores, but stationery shops or the “we make hanko fast!” franchise stores in office areas should. Under ¥100; bring your case so they can match size.

A tool to turn a regular hanko into Shachihata style

If you hate separate ink pads, there’s a holder that makes a normal hanko self-inking:

Found a U.S.-listed version too:

It comes with ink. Insert the hanko and the face rests on the pad inside:

Press down; the ink pad slides aside…

The hanko pops out; stamp away:

Product name: Hanzou (“Hanko dude,” basically).

Fast-dry ink; 2,000 stamps per Hanzou

Ink dries quickly; spec says ~2,000 uses. Refills exist:

Cartridges vs. liquid: cartridges cost a bit more but are quicker to swap.

Regular round ink pads can also be refilled—pop the pad out and inject from the back. One bottle refills a lot, good for office supplies.

Stamping with Hanzou takes a bit of practice

You must press straight down or it won’t print cleanly. Took a few “clunk!” tests to learn the force. You also can’t see the stamp orientation while pressing, so set it correctly when loading.

Still, Hanzou is convenient

No wiping ink off the hanko, no opening/closing the case. Just press. It fits 10–12 mm hanko; 9 mm works with the included grip tape. Recommended if your case sponge is dead.