Quick answer: Choose PEL-DC1/H (西暦日付) if you want the month in English letters: it prints a date such as 04 SEP 2025 (day, English month, four-digit year). Choose PEL-DC2/H (欧文日付) if you want numbers only: it prints '25. 10. 06 (apostrophe and two-digit year, month, day). The Japanese names are easy to mix up, so go by the printed samples. Both share the same body and specifications. Our favourite point is practical: the rotating part is not left exposed, so your hands stay clean (see below).
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What is the nototo dater?
The nototo dater is a rotary date stamp made by Shachihata. You turn the rotor to set the date and press the stamp on paper, so you do not have to write the date by hand each time. It suits notebooks, planners, logs and filing, where the same date format is used again and again.
These are the main specifications listed by the manufacturer (Shachihata official page, catalog page):
- Rotary date stamp: turn the rotor to change the date.
- No separate stamp pad is needed.
- Oil-based pigment ink that resists show-through; marks made over the impression with a water-based pen do not bleed easily.
- Impression size 18 × 3.6 mm; body 43.6 × 28.6 × 76.9 mm; weight about 31 g.
- When the impression gets faint, replace the dedicated cartridge pad PEL-DRC (sold separately).
- For paper only. Pressing too hard can make the mark show through on the back of the page.
PEL-DC1/H vs PEL-DC2/H: the difference
The two models share the same body and specifications. Only the printed date differs.
| Model | Date type | Printed sample | Good for | Amazon.co.jp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PEL-DC1/H | 西暦日付: day, English month, four-digit year | 04 SEP 2025 | English notes and records, a date that cannot be mistaken for another order of numbers, pages that other people or readers abroad will read | PEL-DC1/H |
| PEL-DC2/H | 欧文日付: apostrophe and two-digit year, month, day, separated by dots | '25. 10. 06 | A short, numbers-only date in year-month-day order, as in Japanese records and notebooks with narrow columns | PEL-DC2/H |
The samples are taken from Shachihata's own product images (PEL-DC1/H: 04 SEP 2025; PEL-DC2/H: '25. 10. 06). On the PEL-DC1/H belt chart the months are three-letter English abbreviations (JAN to DEC) and the years run from 2025 to 2036. Because PEL-DC1/H spells out the month, it cannot be read as another order of numbers; PEL-DC2/H relies on the year-month-day order. The Japanese names can feel reversed (the "Western-calendar" model is the one with the English month), so check the sample images before you order. For why number-only dates get misread abroad, see Is 08/09/2026 August 9 or September 8?
The biggest plus: the rotating part does not get your hands dirty
Date stamps are used daily, so small annoyances add up. The one we notice most is ink on the fingers. Some rotary date stamps leave the date wheel or belt open, and changing the date can transfer ink to your hand.
With the nototo dater, the rotating part is not left exposed. In our use, changing the date did not get ink on our hands. That alone makes it easier to keep reaching for it with a notebook open on the desk.
Please note: this is our impression from using it, not a manufacturer specification; Shachihata's product page does not describe it. One buyer review on the official page also mentions ink on the belt, so your experience may differ. Keep the slide closed after use and follow the instructions in the box.
How to choose
- Which format do you want to read? Month in English letters: PEL-DC1/H (04 SEP 2025). Numbers only: PEL-DC2/H ('25. 10. 06).
- Who reads your notebook or form? If people abroad or others will read it, the spelled-out month of PEL-DC1/H is harder to misread.
- Check the printed sample. Look at the photos on the product page and confirm the layout before ordering.
- Plan for refills. The cartridge pad PEL-DRC is sold separately.
Buying from outside Japan
The links on this page go to Amazon.co.jp. Whether an item ships to your country, and any shipping and import costs, depend on the seller and the destination, so check this at checkout. Prices and stock change. At the time of writing the manufacturer's page lists ¥1,430 (tax included) for each model and ¥440 for the PEL-DRC cartridge pad; confirm the current price on the product page.
A date stamp for paper, software for your PC
A stamp only works on paper. For dates typed on a PC, in Word, Excel, e-mail or a text editor, a keyboard tool is the better fit.
InsertDate is a Windows app: press the Insert key and today's date is typed in yyyyMMdd format (for example, 20261231). It works offline. yyyyMMdd is currently the only format it types; see What is the yyyyMMdd format? and How to insert today's date in any Windows application.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between PEL-DC1/H and PEL-DC2/H?
Only the printed date. PEL-DC1/H (西暦日付) prints the day, an English month and a four-digit year, such as 04 SEP 2025. PEL-DC2/H (欧文日付) prints an apostrophe and two-digit year, the month and the day, such as '25. 10. 06 (Shachihata's sample images). The Japanese names can feel reversed, so check the samples.
Do I need a stamp pad?
No. A separate stamp pad is not needed. When the impression becomes faint, you replace the dedicated cartridge pad PEL-DRC, which is sold separately.
Does the nototo dater keep my hands clean?
In our use, the rotating part is not left exposed and changing the date did not get ink on our hands. This is our impression, not a manufacturer specification, and one buyer review mentions ink on the belt, so results may vary.
Can I use a stamp for dates on my PC?
No. A stamp only works on paper. For dates typed on Windows, a tool such as InsertDate types today's date in yyyyMMdd format when you press the Insert key.
References
- Shachihata: nototo dater (official product page) — models, prices, impression and body size, weight, ink, pad refill
- Shachihata product catalog: nototo dater, PEL-DC1/H — release date, impression size, refill pad PEL-DRC
About InsertDate
InsertDate is a Windows app. Press the Insert key and today's date is typed in yyyyMMdd format (for example, 20261231). It works offline, comes with a 7-day free trial and is a one-time purchase on Microsoft Store.
InsertDate does not stamp paper, and yyyyMMdd is currently the only format it can type. To type into an app running as administrator, run InsertDate as administrator too.
InsertDate is a Windows 10/11 app. Reading on a phone? Open this page on your PC to install it.