noun
scribe; amanuensis; professional letter writer
A person who writes documents on behalf of others, especially in historical or formal contexts. In modern Japan, this role is largely obsolete, but the term may appear in historical or legal settings.
江戸時代には、代書人が手紙を代筆していた。
In the Edo period, scribes wrote letters on behalf of others.
彼は役所の近くで
He works as a scribe near the government office.
筆耕 is a more literary term for a professional copyist or calligrapher, often with a focus on beautiful handwriting, whereas 代書人 emphasizes writing on behalf of another.
Compound of 代 (substitute) + 書 (write) + 人 (person). The term directly describes a person who writes in place of another.