Japan Post 2024 has brought along a few old philatelic friends, as well as a surprise this year. Their annual Greetings stamps once again celebrate spring and summer with the usual bright, cheerful flowers and bunnies.  But, more importantly, we have another cat!   

Nature’s Record Series Vol. 4
January 2024

I think I would be deeply disappointed if cats didn’t make at least one appearance in the year. It’s a tradition here to look out for a cat or two to show up somewhere in the annual program. They have a charming habit of popping up in Japan’s stamps, tucked into different sets, waiting for us to spot them. 

An entire article could be created on just Japanese cat stamps. Come to think of it, that would be a fun post to pull together. The 4 stamps above were all from the 2023 program, which was a good year for cat fans. One other set, The World of Picture Book Series Vol. 7, included a couple of post marks to go with their sheet of cats.

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Of course, Japan’s annual programs are more than just cats. They also have food! You can never go wrong with a good bowl of noodles, like this gem from the My Travel Stamps Series Vol. 9. set.

Japan is the capital of postmark designs. They produce exquisite, tiny pieces of art for each release, and as much care is given to them as the full stamp designs. If you are a cancel hound Japan should be your first stop. 

For a second year, Japan Post surprised us with a collaboration with France for the annual Paris stamp show. This year, Stéphane Humbert-Basset designed a 3-stamp intaglio set to commemorate the Paris-Philapex in May 2024. Pierre Bara did the engraving work for this year’s design. 

In 2023, for the Paris show, we enjoyed Florence Gendre’s lush tribute to Les Chateaux de la Loire. It’s so unexpected to see French designers pop up in a stamp program so different in style, but what an incredible opportunity to compare design sensibilities. 

This type of international collaboration tends to bring out some impressive and thought-provoking creations, and it would be nice to see more of it. The French designs are so different than the Japanese and having them in one program offers a chance to appreciate how countries approach their stamp designs and themes. 

I’m already anticipating next year’s program. More cats? More French co-designs? Who knows. But let’s enjoy 2024 first. 

January

Miffy

10 stamps on a sheet, 2 cancels
offset

(1) Rice porridge and Miffy
(2) Balloons and Miffy
(3) Juice and Miffy
(4) Miffy holding a carrot
(5) Miffy writing a letter
(6) Miffy standing
(7) Miffy reading a letter
(8) Miffy holding a bag
(9) Miffy riding a scooter
(10) Miffy in striped T-shirt
Margin: Miffy going to school

Miffy is a little rabbit created by Dutch artist Dick Bruna. Since their first publication over 60 years ago, Miffy has been translated into 50 languages and sold more than 85 million copies worldwide.

In 1943, during the Second World War, the Bruna family sought refuge in a house near the Loosdrechtse Plassen, a lake district in the heart of the Netherlands. Unable to go to school, Dick Bruna had to find a way to occupy himself all day long. It was here that he first began drawing and painting his natural surroundings. Sometimes the designers and illustrators who worked for his father’s publishing company would visit the Bruna residence. Some of them, including Rein van Looy, seized the opportunity to give the young artist a drawing lesson. After the war, Dick designed his first book cover for the book “Anne-Marie” by Arnold Clerx. miffy

Illustrator: Dick Bruna
Designer: 玉木 明 Akira Tamaki
Tamaki is chief stamp designer at Japan Post Co. Ltd. He has designed around 150 stamps for Japan post, including Philatelic Week 2021: 150th Anniversary of Postal Service, Festivals of the Hometown – 6 (2011) and Prefecture Stamps – Nagano (2016)
This article has a brief interview with Tamaki SUNDAY’S POST – TOKYO FM/JFN – Kundo Koyama, Natsumi Uga (tfm.co.jp) (In Japanese)

Release date: January 17, 2024

Nature’s Record Series Vol. 4

10 stamps on a sheet, 2 cancels
offset

(1) Badger
(2) Deer
(3) Rabbit
(4) Dog
(5) Giraffe
(6) Porcupine
(7) Monkey
(8) Cat
(9) Donkey
(10) Marten
Margin: whale

Images are from Takagi Haruyama’s Illustrated Theory of Honzo 『本草図説』 高木春山の
The animals of the largest colored natural history illustrated book in history drawn at the end of the Edo period, “Honzo Illustrated Theory”, are in the stamp design! | Art Japan – Japaaan

Herb Illustrated | Iwase Bunko Collection | Museum of Antiquarian Books Nishio City Iwase Bunko

Designer: 星山 理佳 Rika Hoshiyama  

Release date: January 24, 2024

February

Spring Greetings

10 stamps on 2 sheets (5x 2 per sheet), 2 cancels
offset

Sheet one:

(1) Sakura
(2) Nanohana
(3) White clover
(4) Astragalus
(5) Horsetail and horsetail

Sheet two:

(1) Dandelion
(2) Violets
(3) Yaezakura
(4) Nirinsou
(5) Primrose

Like any stamp, this set went through a number of changes during the design process. The two images below are from rejected designs. Both are water colour, but Japan Post decided they were too pale and difficult to see clearly. 

The designs included flowers and the backgrounds for each stamp.  (Stamp Times Vol.46 Spring Greeting | Japan Post Corporation)
Instead of the light watercolour wash, they opted for pastel patterns like the two below. 

Designer: 貝淵 純子 Junko Kaibuchi
Kaibuchi has designed more than 650 stamps since joining Japan Post in 2005. 

 Stamps travel with letters. If I can color the ‘letter culture’ by introducing fascinating works and Japan culture and scenery through stamps, I will feel happy as a stamp designer.  Interview with the stamp designer who was in charge of the illustration of the 2023 New Year’s Day greeting card ~ Happiness as a stamp designer is to color the “letter culture” ~ |JP CAST (Media that conveys the charm of the post office) (japanpost.jp)

Release date: February 7, 2024

March

My Travel Stamps Series Vol. 9

20 stamps on two sheets, 2 cancels
offset

Sheet one:

(1) Dogo Onsen
(2) Seto Ohashi Bridge
(3) Tobe ware
(4) Marugame Uchiwa
(5) Gem coral
(6) Iya Kazura Bridge
(7) Katsurahama
(8) Tokushima Ramen
(9) Seared bonito
(10) Indigo dyeing

Sheet two:

(1) Botchan train
(2) Setouchi Triennale Shinji Ohmaki “Liminal”
(3) Citrus fruits
(4) Sanuki udon
(5) Mt. Ishizuchi
(6) Kotohira Shrine
(7) Niyodo Blue (Asu Valley)
(8) Awa Odori
(9) Yosakoi Festival
(10) Onaruto Bridge and whirlpools

Designer: 楠田 祐士 Yuji Kusuda
Kusuda first stamp set was My Journey Stamp Series No. 1: Kyoto I Found in 2016.

When I think about a concept or draw a design, I always try to think not only about what I want to convey, but also about how the person who sees the stamp will feel at that moment and the feelings of the person who receives it. 
There are only seven “stamp designers” in Japan The work of Mr./Ms. Kusuda, who became a stamp designer after graduating, puts his thoughts into design | WORK MILL

Release date: March 6, 2024

Invitation to the Philatelic Hobby ~Paris~

3 stamps on souvenir sheet 
intaglio with foil

This is a rare, engraved stamp from Japan Post.  It was designed by Japan Post and French artist Stéphane Humbert-Basset.  

(1) Eiffel Tower
(2) Louvre Museum
(3) Arc de Triomphe
Background: Paris cityscape

The Paris Philex takes place from May 30 to June 1, 2024. 

Designer: Stéphane Humbert-Basset
Humber-Basset’s artwork may be familiar to some readers. His work has appeared on the covers of Jazzman, Harper’s and  L’Express. Stéphane’s portfolio now includes over 40 stamps and cancels
Engraver: Pierre Bara
Bara has worked with Humbert-Basset on previous stamps, including Molière 1622-1673 (2022). 

France is renowned for its proud tradition of supporting the art of engraving. The annual French stamp program is showcase for this traditional craft. You can see France’s 2024 program here France 2024. 

Release date: March 13, 2024

Culture for the Future Series Vol. 1

10 stamps on sheet, 2 cancels
offset

Culture to leave to future generations.

(1) Tsugaru lacquerware (Aomori prefecture) TSUGARU NURI (Aomori Lacquerware Federation) This is a beautiful website. Worth visiting just for the visuals. 
(2) Kairakuen (Ibaraki Prefecture) Japan Sanmeien Kairakuen Garden (ibaraki-kairakuen.jp) 
(3) Hakone marquetry (Kanagawa Prefecture)  Hakone wood mosaic（Hakone yosegi zaiku）- KOGEI JAPAN
(4) Taraibune (Niigata Prefecture) Taraibune Tub-Boat Ride (Yajima Taiken Koryukan)｜What to See & Do｜Enjoy Niigata
(5) Sabae Glasses (Fukui Prefecture) Glasses Production Area Fukui Sabae｜[Official] Fukui,Sabae Megane Introduction Site JAPAN GLASSES FACTORY
(6) Hamamatsu Festival (Shizuoka Prefecture) Official: Hamamatsu Festival (Brave kite flying battle and goten stall pulling) (hamamatsu-daisuki.net)
(7) Nara Park (Nara Prefecture) Nara Park Quick Guide (pref.nara.jp)
(8) Hanshin Koshien Stadium (Hyogo Prefecture) Hanshin Koshien Stadium
(9) Yasugi Bushi (Shimane Prefecture) About Yasugibushi & Dojou-sukui in Yasugi City | SHIMANE (kankou-shimane.com)
(10) Yawata Sohongu Usa Shrine Annual Festival (Oita Prefecture) The Forests and Shrines of Usa Jingu｜Oita Heritage｜120 beautiful heritage sites in Oita (oitaisan.com)

Designer: 丸山 智  Satoshi Maruyama

There is a difference between directing and designing from scratch, but basically we decide on the subject first. For example, in the case of the Natural Monuments Series, we consult with experts and institutions that supervise and examine the subject matter, and decide on specific subjects and places to cover them. Next, I go to the site and photograph the candidate subjects and landscapes from all directions to solidify the image for the drawing. We draw original drawings using photographs and materials provided by experts, etc., but it is impossible to draw without on-site interviews. After I finish drawing some original drawings, I incorporate them into the design. We will produce multiple proposals and decide on the design through in-house discussion. After that, we moved on to printing. After about 3 or 4 proofreadings, it is finally completed, which is the general flow.
Mr./Ms. Maruyama, a stamp designer, puts his thoughts into a small visual – amanaINSIGHTS

Release date:  March 21, 2024

April

Flower Colors Series Vol. 2

10 stamps x 2 on 2 sheets, 2 cancels
offset

5 flowers appear on both sheets: 

(1) Carnation
(2) Tulip
(3) Hanamomo
(4) Pansies
(5) Currant

Designer: 星山 理佳 Xingshan Lijia 

Release date: April 3, 2024

Japan World Exposition 2025 (Osaka-Kansai Expo) (with donation)

2 stamps on a sheet of 10, cancels
gravure

(1) Official logo mark
(2) Official mascot Myak Myaku

Expo 2025 will be held in Osaka from April 13 to October 13, 2025. The theme will be “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”. 
Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan Official Website

Designer: 山田 泰子 Yasuko Yamada

Release date: April 12, 2024

Philatelic Hobby Week

4 stamps in a booklet of 10, 2 cancels
intaglio and offset

Philatelic Hobby Week began in 1947 as an initiative to raise awareness of the cultural value of stamp design. 

Two folding screens were picked for this year’s set.

The Hikone Screen painted during the Edo period, l7th century. It depicts an everyday scene of people playing games.  Location:  The Hikone Screen | Hikone Castle Museum (hikone-castle-museum.jp)

Weaving and Dryers Screen is held by MOA Museum of Art located in Atami, Japan.  From the Edo period, 17th century. Weavers and Dyers – MOA MUSEUM OF ART (moaart.or.jp)

Designer: 玉木 明 Akira Tamaki

Release date: April 19, 2024 

May

Greeting (Simple)

3 stamps on sheets of 50
offset

• Pigeon
• Tara leaf
• quill pen

Designer: 貝淵 純子 Junko Kaibuchi

Release date: May 1, 2024 

Happy Greetings

3 stamps on 3 sheets of 5, 2 cancels
offset, foil 

The designer opted for a “Western-style retro motif” for this set. 

Sheet one:

(1) Ribbon
(2) Key
(3) Rabbit
(4) Shells and pearls
(5) Moon and stars

Sheet two:

(1) Lily
(2) Forget-me-not
(3) Lily of the valley
(4) Violets
(5) Margaret

Sheet three:

(1) Swan
(2) Bluetail flycatcher
(3) Chicken
(4) Robin
(5) Swallow

Designer: 吉川 亜有美 Ayumi Yoshikawa

Release date: May 15, 2024 

National Land Greening (Okayama Prefecture)

5 stamps on sheets of 10, cancel
offset

(1) Japanese red pine and Japanese black pine
(2) Forest and wild cherry blossoms
(3) Japanese cypress
(4) Forest and Japanese maple
(5) Cedar and Kikuzakura

Designer: 楠田 祐士 Yuji Kusuda

Release date: May 22, 2024 

June

Summer Greetings

10 stamps on 2 sheets of 10, 2 cancels
offset

Sheet one:

(1) Wind chimes
(2) Sennari gourd
(3) Traditional morning glory 
(4) Corn
(5) Fan

Sheet two:

(1) Sunflower
(2) Traditional morning glory
(3) Watermelon
(4) Water balloons
(5) Goldfish 

The designer chose water colour illustrations of summer flowers, including “morning glories, which are familiar as a summer tradition, depict morning glories called “changing morning glories” with unusual flower and leaf shapes that have been created since the Edo period.” Summer Greetings | Japan Post Corporation

Designer: 山田 泰子 Yasuko Yamada

Release date: June 5, 2024 

Complete Renewal of 3 Bank of Japan notes

10 stamps on sheet, 2 cancels
offset

Each stamp shows different aspects of the three new banknotes (10,000 yen, 5,000 yen, and 1,000 yen) 

(1) Yamazakura flower
(2) complex anti counterfeit pattern #1
(3) Shibusawa Eiichi – Shibusawa Eiichi Memorial Foundation
(4) Kiri (Paulownia tomentosa) 
(5) Temari – playground toys that can be traced to the 7thCE. 
(6) Pattern #2
(7) Umeko Tsuda – Japanese educator, founder of Tsuda University What did Umeko Tsuda do? Introducing her life and achievements in working hard to improve the status of women|Benesse Education Information Site
(8) Yamazakura flower
(9) Pattern #3
(10) Shibasaburo Kitasato – doctor and bacteriologist The Life of Kitasato Shibasaburō|Kitasato Shibasaburo Memorial Room

Designer: 貝淵 純子 Junko Kaibuchi

Release date: June 19, 2024 

Sea Creatures Series Vol. 8

10 stamps on sheet, 2 cancels
offset, embossed, varnished

This sheet is embossed to create a texture that mimics the fish’s body and seaweed.

(1) Ibodango  Eumicrotremus orbis
(2) Fusen fish Balloon fish Eumicrotremus pacificus 
(3) Lumpfish Cyclopterus lumpus
(4) Fusen  
(5) Kompeitou  
(6) Ibodango  
(7) Kompeitou  
(8) Kompeitou
(9) Fusen  
(10) Fusen and Kompeito

Designer: 星山 理佳 Rika Hoshiyama

Release date: June 26, 2024

July

Fumi’s Day – Letter Writing Day

2 sheets of 10, 2 cancels
offset

Sheet one: 

(1) Uniform cap, 1971 (Showa 46)
(2) Uniform cap, 1904 (Meiji 37)
(3) Date stamp for correspondence
(4) Postal instruction scale, Showa period
(5) Carrier pigeon (stuffed)
(6) Mail delivery bag, Meiji 30s and later
(7) Mail delivery bag, Meiji 10s-1820s
(8) Delivery clock, early Meiji
(9) Mailman’s light, Meiji 10s-1830s
(10) Postal bugle, Meiji 28 (Meiji 28)

Sheet two:

(1) Black-lacquered pillar box, 1872 (Meiji 5)
(2) Tawaraya-style postbox, 1901 (Meiji 34)
(3) Mailbox No. 1 (round), 1949 (Showa 24)
(4) Automatic postage stamp and postcard sales machine, invented in 1904 (Meiji 37)
(5) Octagonal clock, 1874 (Meiji 7)
(6) Gower Bell telephone, 1890 (Meiji 23)
(7) Typewriter
(8) Postal delivery car
(9) Airplane for transporting mail
(10) Postal car, 1937 (Showa 12)

Designer: 吉川 亜有美 Ayumi Yoshikawa

Release date: July 23, 2024 

August

100th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Japan and Turkey

10 stamps on sheet, 2 cancels
offset 

(1) Bosphorus
(2) Grand Bazaar
(3) Sultan Ahmed Mosque
(4) Turkish Coffee (UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage)
(5) Fethiye
(6) Göreme National Park
(7) Pamukkale Travertines
(8) Ceramics
(9) Isak Pasa Palace
(10) Göbekli Tepe

Turkey issued a joint set celebrating Japanese culture designed by Aysu Bekâr Kocamiş

Designer:  楠田 祐士 Yuji Kusuda

Release date: August 6, 2024 

September

The 78th National Sports Festival (Saga)

10 stamps on sheet, 2 cancels
offset

SAGA2024

The SAGA games take place:
National Sports Festival
Saturday, October 5th, 2024 to Tuesday, October 15th, 2024

National Sports Festival for People with a Disability
Saturday, October 26th, 2024 to Monday, October 28th, 2024

(1) Sailing
(2) Karatsu Kunchi
(3) Rugby Football
(4) SAGA Arena
(5) Yoshinogari Ruins
(6) Imari and Arita Pottery
(7) Hockey
(8) Yutoku Inari Shrine
(9) Softball
(10) Handball
Margins: Tournament logo, mandarin oranges, strawberries

Designer: 山田 泰子 Yasuko Yamada

Release date: September 4, 2024 

Posukuma

2 sheets of 10 stamps, 2 cancels
offset 

Japan Post took a cue from last year’s series featuring their postal mascot Posukuma posing around outdoor sites. This year sees Posukuma trying out different activities as well. 

First sheet:

• Enjoying a cafe latte
• Trying oil painting
• Pond with a green bridge
• Piano lesson
• Carrying a violin
• Picnicking
• Site seeing 
• Playing the saxophone
• Blissful moments
• Fishing 
• On the sheet edge: In front of a castle 

Second sheet:

• A lovely awakening
• Relaxing at the poolside
• Umbrella day
• Going for a hike
• Posing in front of a blue window
• Tennis
• Off to the next location
• Painting water lilies 
• Walking by a tower with a bell
• Crossing a bridge
• On the sheet edge: White and blue building

Designer: 星山 理佳 Rika Hoshiyama  

Release date: September 11, 2024 

Autumn 

10 stamps on 2 sheets (2×5 stamps)
offset

Sheet one:

• Autumn forest and small bird
• Nuts
• Autumn forest and deer
• Blue berries and red berries
• Autumn forest and squirrel

Sheet two:

• Harvest scenery
• Pumpkin
• Reading
• Wreath
• Tea time

Designer: 楠田 祐士 Yuji Kusuda

Release date: September 18, 2024 

Greeting (Life & Flowers)

10 stamps on 2 sheets (2×5 stamps)
offset

This year’s fall Greeting stamps features embroidered flowers. 

Sheet one: 

• Around the summer solstice
• Anemone
• Wreath waiting for spring
• Botanical pattern
• The scent of daffodils
• Margin: British fields

Sheet two:

• The Bird Who Can’t Sing and the Tree of Life
• Swallow Season
• Blackberry
• Dandelion Collage
• Long-legged Poppy
• Margin: The Bird Who Can’t Sing and the Tree of Life

Designer: 貝淵 純子 Junko Kaibuchi

Release date: September 25, 2024 

October

Mr./Ms. Characters – Cartoon Partners

10 stamps on sheet, 2 cancels
offest

• Hello Kitty①
• Hello Kitty②
• My Melody
• Kogimyun
• Pochacco
• Wish Me Mell
• Pom Pom Purin
• Cinnamoroll
• Little Twin Stars
• Kuromi

Designer: 丸山 智  Satoshi Maruyama

Release date: October 2, 2024 

International Correspondence Week

3 stamps on 3 sheets (3x 10 stamps), 2 cancels
offset

Three works of art by Katsushika Hokusai 葛飾北斎 were used for this set. 

• Finch and Magnolia Flowers  デザインには、葛飾北斎の「文鳥　辛夷花」
• Thirty-six Views of Fuji: Fuji of Kanaya on the Tokaido デザインには、葛飾北斎の「冨嶽三十六景　東海道金谷ノ不二」 
• Thirty-six Views of Fuji:  Shimomeguro デザインには、葛飾北斎の「冨嶽三十六景　下目黒」

All are held by the Tokyo National Museum.

Hokusai (c 1760 – 1849) was a ukiyo-e artist from the Edo period. 

Designer: 玉木 明 Akira Tamaki

Release date: October 7, 2024 

150th Anniv ersary of the Universal Postal Union (UPU)

4 stamps on a souvenir sheet (4 x 2 stamps)
offset

Designer: 吉川 亜有美 Ayumi Yoshikawa

Release date: October 9, 2024 

Flower Colors Series Vol. 3

10 stamps on 2 sheets of 10, 2 cancels
offset

Roses, holly, sasanquas, habotan, and crocuses

Designer: 星山 理佳 Rika Hoshiyama  

Release date: October 16, 2024 

November 

New Year – Year of the Snake

4 stamps, 2 cancels
offset

Japan post is continuing its tradition of dipping into the works of Kawasaki Kyosen 崎巨泉  (1877~1942), creator of a catalogue of local toys (toy paintings).

Drawings are from Kyosen’s Collected Illustrations of Japanese Toys (Kyōsen Omocha-shū)

Designer: 吉川 亜有美 Ayumi Yoshikawa

Release date: November 1, 2024 

Winter Greetings

10 stamps on 2 sheets of 10, 2 cancels
offset

Designer: 貝淵 純子 Junko Kaibuchi

Release date: November 20, 2024 

The World of Picture Book, Vol. 8

8 stamps on a sheet, 2 cancels
offset

The designs for the 8th collection are based on scenes from Junaida’s book “No” (Fukuinkan Shoten), published in 2019.

This is an intriguing set:

Designer: 貝淵 純子 Junko Kaibuchi

Release date: November 27, 2024  

December

Culture for the Future Series
2nd in series

10 stamps, 2 cancels
offset

This series explores regional development through arts, crafts, lifestyles, events unique to each prefecture, with a focus on preserving them for future generations.

• Yokote Kamakura (Akita Prefecture)
• Takasaki Daruma (Gunma Prefecture)
• Jigokudani Monkey Park (Nagano Prefecture)
• Wajima Lacquerware (Ishikawa Prefecture)
• Kokunomiya Naked Festival (Aichi Prefecture)
• Nachi Falls and Nachisan Seiganto-ji Temple Three-story Pagoda (Wakayama Prefecture)
• Hagi Pottery (Yamaguchi Prefecture)
• Uchiko-za Theatre (Ehime Prefecture)
• Nagasaki Lantern Festival (Nagasaki Prefecture)
• Takachiho Night Kagura (Miyazaki Prefecture)

Designer: 丸山 智 Satoshi Maruyama

Release date: December 18, 2024