R2-D2 Japanese name stamp holder comes to you from a galaxy far, far away….

When it comes to guarding your all-important name stamp, he may be your only hope.

If you plan on living in Japan for an extended period of time, one of the things you’ll need to get your life started here is a special seal with your name on it, called a hanko, which is used to “sign” important documents, like your lease agreement when renting an apartment or the forms needed to open a bank account. For more everyday tasks, such as when signing for a package, a nēmu-in, or rubber name stamp, is often used. When they’re not in use, they are usually stored in small cases or pouches, which can be found for cheap at 100 yen stores.

Or, you could let the universe’s most trusty droid protect your name stamp for you, with this clever R2-D2 name-stamp stand!

▼ Secure the stamp in R2’s head, and the stamp will be stored within when his head is replaced.
When you’re ready to use, just push R2’s chest button to pop off his top!

Instead of keeping your name stamp in a drawer or your bag, where you’ll likely have to dig and search for it whenever you need it, you can entrust it to R2-D2, who will keep it for you on a desk or table where you can easily find it. Fans of the original Star Wars trilogy will also appreciate the fun freebie that comes with the stamp stand – a Princess Leia stamp-cap holder, so you can recreate the scene from the movie when R2 shows Leia’s message to Obi-Wan Kenobi.

The R2-D2 name stamp holder can be fitted with stamps that are between 17 and 19 millimeters in diameter, and the stand itself is approximately 77.5 wide by 121 millimeters tall (about 3 by 4.75 inches). If you need to add this brave little droid to your collection of Star Wars memorabilia, you can purchase him through the Hankos online shop for 2,800 yen (US$26.07) plus tax and shipping, though you will need to use a forwarding service if you want it shipped outside of Japan. R2 is sure to bring some balance to the force, next to your Darth Vader snack dispenser.

Source, images: Rakuten via MdN Design Interactive

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