実印

The seal an individual has registered with their municipality, or a company with the Legal Affairs Bureau, as opposed to the unregistered 認印 used for everyday receipts. Where an owner files the application themselves, they ordinarily seal it with the jitsuin and attach the matching 印鑑証明書[1]. In the ordinary sale handled by an agent they do not: the agent signs or seals the application[1][2] and is outside the certificate requirement either way[1], and the seller's jitsuin and certificate go on the 委任状 instead[1]. Neither is needed where the owner's application or 委任状 is instead signed and notarially authenticated, the route a seller who cannot register a Japanese seal uses[2]. Where a jitsuin is used, the seal on its own establishes nothing: it is the pairing with a current certificate that the registry relies on.