The present Privy Seal is made of pure gold and is about 3 sun (about 9 cm) in size and weighs 4.5 kg.

The master-hand of the seal was Abei Rekido (安部井 櫟堂, 1805-1883) of Kyoto.

He was commissioned to manufacture the State Seal of Japan within one year, in 1874 (Meiji 7).

The Privy Seal of Japan is printed on Imperial rescripts, proclamation of sentences of laws, cabinet orders, treaties, instruments of ratification, ambassadors' credentials and their dismissal documents, documents of general power of attorney, consular commissions, letters authorizing foreign consuls, letters of appointment or dismissal of government officials whose appointment requires the Emperor's attestation, and appointment documents and documents of the Prime Minister and Chief Justice, and their respective dismissals.

[2][3][4][5] The history of the Privy Seal of Japan dates back to the Nara period.