Kanji "renaming" and banking details

[Malamis]

site:Jref.com google-fu has failed me, thus new post:
How does Japanese banking systems/administration deal with foreign nationals for the surnaming element? In the case of genuinely untranslatable names, or those which would take up as many kana characters as the originating alphabet, is there some standard practice in either translating meaning, sound or whatever to make it more convenient for the administration?
This was partially highlighted by my currently distant friend "Doctor Castle" who's surname would have been about 9 katakana characters long and was thus issued a banking hanko with a phonetic of his forename (John) : ﾂ湘ｩ.
In my occasional trawls through serious business here I've noticed some mentions of kanji w/ katakana forenames, but there is little consistency.
Ultimately, I want to know if I can look forward to a hanko that bears some equivalent of Alexander Abbot (窶｢ﾃｻﾂ湘､ ﾆ但ﾆ椎?ﾆ誰ﾆ湛 ?) , as I have a rather bizarre Scots Gaelic surname which translates (eventually) to that.
Anyone dealt with this ?

Edit: for some cretinous reason, I didn't post this in practical, and can't delete it.

 

[Malamis]

After finally getting back in contact with Dr. Castle, and specifically asking about the subject, i found out the following:

Hanko are mass produced, and you have to be someone special to warrant a custom sigil. In my case i'd get whatever they felt like giving me.
You will *only* be required to use a hanko on official (i.e. university or government) documents; most banks accept both signatures and "inkers".
This will in all likelihood be taken care of for you if you're under someone's auspices ( government university etc.) neither of us knew where and how to go about it privately.

sorry for the unsightly double post.

 

[nice gaijin]

I was able to live in Japan for a year (as a student) without a hanko. Some of my activities included dealing with the kuyakusho for health insurance/gaijin card, getting a job (and the necessary paperwork to work part time on a student visa), getting a re-entry stamp on my passport, getting a phone, and opening a bank account. Maybe half of my peers actually bothered getting hanko/inkan, I don't know how necessary it really is, but I got along without it short-term.

 

[Pachipro]

As far as the surnaming element goes, all one needs to do any official business, including opening up a bank account is to have a hanko made with one's surname in katagana only as I did. (it was only three katagana). It was accepted everywhere and if I used it, it was as "official" as if I signed in longhand in ink. Besides, why would a foreigner want a hanko with Kanji anyway that would just confuse the Japanese and hardly any of them could read it properly anyway?

Hanko are mass produced, and you have to be someone special to warrant a custom sigil. In my case i'd get whatever they felt like giving me.

Wrong on both counts even when it comes to foreigners. They may be mass produced for common surnames like "Sato", Tanaka", etc, but anyone can have one made in whatever name they desire and they can also have it registered as their official seal. They can even pay extra for one that is unique to you and you only.

You don't have to have one to live there, but they are handy and makes life that much more easier when conducting official business.

 

[Malamis]

Wrong on both counts even when it comes to foreigners. They may be mass produced for common surnames like "Sato", Tanaka", etc, but anyone can have one made in whatever name they desire and they can also have it registered as their official seal. They can even pay extra for one that is unique to you and you only.

Thanks for the correction, we were both going on (under) educated guesses.

 

[FrustratedDave]

I have two "hanko" for myself, one is a "mitome" and the other is a "jitsuin" all in kana, the foremer is for applications, or in place of singing for a package or just anything would normally require a "hanko". The later is for formal prceedures like loans, buying a car (certain forms need a "jitsuin" )ect.

But as Pachipro stated, anyone can get one made.

 

[Base]

You can make your own as well.

The hundred yen shops have a rubber "blank" one you can carve.

It's good entertainment for the train.