07.09.2025

A few pages from my sketchbook during my trip to Japan.

Whenever I had the opportunity, I would stamp the place I was visiting or had just drawn. These stamps, or inkan in Japanese, can be found all over the country and reflect the Japanese people’s enthusiasm for seals. Goshuins, in particular, are seals given to worshippers at Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. They are usually accompanied by handwritten calligraphy. 

Collectibles for some, stamps mark your visit to a temple, museum or even a railway station. They come in all shapes and sizes, and it’s easy to get caught up in the game of searching for them, applying them and discovering the ink design. A fun way to discover the country.