Shachihata ink pads
In Japan, stamps are a big deal. They are used for everything from official ID (Hanko) and temple souvenirs (Goshu) to fun travel mementoes (Eki stamps).
They first appeared around 5500 B.C. to mark personal property. Over time, the government began using them to authenticate official papers, and business owners eventually had to register specific stamps as legal signatures. Today, while they aren't used every day, most people in Japan own a personal stamp.
Shachihata was founded in 1925 and is known for high-quality stamping materials. They made the first perpetual ink pad by just adding ink to a pad. It sounds logical now, but at that time it was pretty revolutionary.
Shachihata’s stamps or ink pads today are of superb quality, using a specifically formulated oil-based pigment ink that dries in just 3 sec. The pad has a fine mesh around the cotton pad to prevent a spongy feel when pressing ink into a stamp. It results in a beautiful, crisp and detailed print of your most beloved stamps. Once dry, the print is waterproof and perfect for colouring with ink and watercolours. The stamps are cleaned easily with a cloth.
Tip: Store Shachihata ink pads in a horizontal position (with the ink pointing to the sky) to keep the oily substance evenly on the pad. If not, you’ll feel that the weight of the oil shifts to one side.
