Does everyone in Japan have a stamp?

TOKYO (AFP) - Japan's new Prime Minister is declaring war, but there's no danger of an international conflict: the target of his ire is the humble ink stamp known as Hanko.

It might seem paradoxical in a country often assumed to be a futuristic tech-savvy paradise, but Japan's business world and bureaucracy remain heavily dependent on paper documents, hand-stamped with approval.

The drawbacks to Hanko, which are used for everything from delivery receipts to marriage certificates have become increasing clear during coronavirus - many Japanese were unable to work from home because they had to physically stamp documents in the office.

Now Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is on a push to digitise the nation, but he faces an uphill struggle when it comes to the stamps, which range from mass-produced plastic ones to hand-carved wooden versions used on special occasions.

Artisan stamp-maker Takahiro Makino, who painstakingly carves miniature characters into each unique piece he makes, isn't too worried about the drive.

"We shouldn't keep using things that aren't necessary. But on the other hand, an object of value will survive no matter what," he told AFP at his workshop in downtown Tokyo.

For each stamp, he carefully paints the name of the person or company that will adorn it, before beginning the delicate work of chiselling.

Each stamp will "carry the personality of each craftsman," the 44-year-old said.

Sturdy handmade stamps like Makino's cost several hundred dollars and are often given by parents to children as a coming-of-age gift - an essential tool for a responsible adult.