Originally Posted by
Calcifer
Really? Even during the Bakufu, Fuji (now part of Mizuho IIRC) didn't require a hanko (at two separate times in my life I've had "sign kouza" with them, and I have never owned a hanko).
When I arrived, the HR people from my office told me I needed the hanko to open the Mizuho account. It may not be absolutely necessary, but unlike the Citi application I filled out, Mizuho only had a space to hanko, and didn't have a space to sign.
Also, when I closed my Mizuho account, they didn't ask for any identification. All I had to do was hanko and they handed me my balance in cash
Alex