I guess it was too much to hope for to see more cats to start Japan Post’s 2023 stamp program.
Yuji Kusuda’s Cat of Onomichi stamp and cancel pairing from the My Travel Stamp Series was the perfect start to 2022. But starting with Snoopy and his friends this year is an acceptable substitute.
Traditionally Japan Post issues 2 cancels per issue, which means a lot of collecting opportunities. Among the best of last year’s were the annual Happy Greetings (April), Philately Week (April) and Letter Writing Day (July) and one more cat from the World Heritage #14 set (August).
Japanese designers have mastered the art of creating finely detailed cancels that look good in any size. The wild cat from the World Heritage set is a prime example of this skill.
Japan Post also publishes little extras regarding artists and designs. This year I’ll try to pop in anything I find fascinating that will add to our appreciation of the stamps and artists. This example from artist Yuji Kusuda, discussing how the stamp Cat of Onomichi developed, is the type of information I’m hoping to incorporate.
Based on the concept of “My Journey,” we have featured postage stamps about experiences and discoveries at our travels, but Onomichi is famous as a hilly town facing the Seto Inland Sea, and many cats live there. This time, I drew the moment when I unintentionally released the shutter of the camera on my encounter with a cat. Philatelic Times Vol.21 My Travel Stamp Series Vol.7 | Japan Post Corporation
In the meantime, enjoy the stamps, hope for more cats, expect breathtaking cancels and anticipate the annual food showcases.
Cheers
Catpaw
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January
Snoopy and the Peanuts
Theme: Colors of Peanuts – “We shine with attractive colors”
10 stamps, 2 cancels
6 colour offset
- Snoopy and Woodstock 1
- Snoopy and Lucy
- Snoopy and Charlie Brown
- Snoopy and Papermint Patty
- Snoopy and Woodstock 2
- Snoopy and Rerun
- Snoopy and Schroeder
- Snoopy and Sally
- Snoopy and Linus
- Snoopy and Charlie Brown and Emily
Peanuts has appeared on Japanese stamps in 2010 and 2014. A website titled Colors of Peanuts has been setup to celebrate both this issue and Peanuts. COLORS OF PEANUTS ｜ SNOOPY.co.jp
Designer: 山田 泰子 Yasuko Yamada
Release date: January 11, 2023
Record of Nature
Volume 3 in series
2 sheets of 10, 2 cancels
- Holland Strawberry
- loquat
- Daidai
- Apricot
- Kumquat
- Wasabi
- carrot
- Peas
- Butterbur
- Radish
Designer: 星山 理佳 Rika Hoshiyama
Release date: January 18, 2023
February
Spring Greetings
12 stamps, 2 cancels
Sheet one:
- Cherry Blossoms
- sweet pea
- Ranunculus
- Carnation
- Tulip
- Rose
Sheet two
- Mimosa 1
- Nanohana
- Dandelion
- Freesia
- Mimosa 2
- Viola
Designer: 星山 理佳 Hoshiyama Rika
Release date: February 8, 2023
Say Thank You with Music
3 stamps on sheet
6 colour offset
- pink gerbera and gift box 1
- Pink gerbera and present box 2
- Pink gerbera and present box 3
This stamp is a bit complex to translate. I think, when you purchase a stamp to send, you get access to a Spotify Playlist put together by Japan Post. A special code is included with the stamp that gives access to one of the following play lists that can be listened to by those who receive stamps:
- “Thank you playlist”
- “Playlist about letters”
* a free Spotify account is needed to access the playlists.
A complete message card set is also available from Japan Post. The set includes the stamp sheet, three message cards (in three colours) and envelopes
Designer: 丸山 智 | Satoshi Maruyama
Release date: February 15, 2023
Natural Landscapes
2nd in series
10 stamps, 2 cancels
- Sea of clouds seen from Suinami Kogen (Ehime Prefecture)
- Weeping cherry blossoms and sunrise on Kakunodate Bukeyashiki Street (Akita Prefecture)
- Japan Mint Cherry Blossom Passage (Osaka Prefecture)
- Moss phlox at Hitsujiyama Park (Saitama Prefecture)
- Fukiware Falls (Gunma Prefecture)
- The clear stream of the Naka River and rape blossoms (Shizuoka Prefecture)
- Circle Tsukishima and sunset (Wakayama Prefecture)
- Wind ripples on the Tottori Sand Dunes (Tottori Prefecture)
- Cherry blossoms at Uomidake Nature Park and Chiringashima Island (Kagoshima prefecture)
- Sunset at Tojinbo (Fukui Prefecture)
- Margins: Rape blossoms in Chikuma River, Obuse Town (Nagano Prefecture)
Designer: 貝淵 純子 Junko Kaibuchi
Release date: February 22, 2022
March
Edo – Tokyo
Vol. 3 in series
20 stamps on 2 sheets, 2 cancels
6 colour offset
“The third volume covers the small items, food, buildings, landmarks, and customs of the Ueno area” News release January 11, 2023 Japan Post Co., Ltd.
Sheet one:
- Scenery of Yanaka
- Skai the Bath House (former Kashiwayu)
- Nezu Shrine
- Ueno Great Buddha
- Ueno Toshogu Shrine
- Shinobazu Pond
- Kan’eiji Kiyomizu Kannondo Tsuki no Matsu
- Statue of Takamori Saigo
- Yushima Tenjin Stroking Cow
- Ueno Hirokoji
Sheet two:
- Daimyo Clock
- Dango
- Edo candy
- Monaka
- Edo Inu Hariko
- Eel
- Boxwood comb
- Pickles
- Amezaiku
- morning glory
Designer: 吉川 亜有美 | Ayumi Yoshikawa
Release date: March 3, 2023
Invitation to the philatelic hobby ~Loire chateaux~
2 stamps on sheet, 2 cancels
offset
- Chambord Castle
- Chenonceau Castle
Details on the sheet show the Curtains of the Castle of Azay-le-Rideau, traditional lily flower emblem and
castle gate pattern
Illustrator: フローレンス・ジェンドル | Florence Gendre
Gendre is a Paris based illustrator who has designed stamps for the French post office La Poste. Like many of the finest French designers, Gendre is also an engraver,
Born into a family of artists, I have always drawn. Constantly looking for new themes, amazing images, I draw my inspiration from nature, technology. A small cog, a gear, the pretty structure of a plant or insect: everything excites me! Graphite pencil drawing on tracing remains my favorite technique and allows me to bring, “step-by-step”, a luxury of details, precision to evolve towards a beautiful finesse of line.
Release date: March 3, 2023
My Travel Stamp
8th in series
20 stamps on 2 sheets, 2 cancels
6 colour offset
Sheet one:
- Jigokudani Monkey Park
- National Alps Azumino park
- Togakushi Shrine Okusha approach Cedar trees
- Matsumoto Castle
- Apple
- Kamikochi
- Venus line
- Tsumago-juku
- Lake Suwa
- Tenryu Gorge
Sheet two:
- Shirouma Sanzan
- Zenkoji Temple
- Soba noodles
- Ueda Castle
- Former Kaichi School Building
- Shiraito Falls
- Senjojiki curl
- Oyaki
- Takato Castle Ruins Park
- Suwa Taisha Kamisha Hongu
Designer: 楠田 祐士 | Yuji Kusuda
Release date: March 3, 2023
April
Flowers of Hospitality
20th in series
10 stamps on 2 sheets of 10
5 colour offset
Sheet one:
- Carnation
- white magnolia
- rose
- portulaca
- Japanese iris
Sheet two:
- Carnation
- lily
- peonies
- hydrangea
- water lily
Designer: 中丸 ひとみ | Hitomi Nakamaru
Release date: April 4, 2023
Happy Greetings
3 sheets of 10
offset, foil
Designer: 山田 泰子 Yasuko Yamada
Release date: April 4, 2023
Philatelic Hobby Week
3 stamps on booklet sheet of 9
gravure 6 colors, Intaglio 1 color
- Women’s pleasures folding screen (Matsuura folding screen) 1
- Women’s pleasures folding screen (Matsuura folding screen) 2
- dance screen
Designer: 玉木 明 | Akira Tamaki
Release date: April 4, 2023
Greeting
annual simple greeting stamp
3 stamps, 3 sheets of 50
offset
Designer: 丸山 智 | Satoshi Maruyama
Release date: April 4, 2023
May
G7 Hiroshima Summit
5 stamps on sheet, 2 cancels
offset
- Rice scoop (special product of Miyajima)
- Peace Memorial Park (Hiroshima Peace City Monument) (Cenotaph for the Atomic Bomb Victims) and Children’s Monument)
- Camphor tree (Hiroshima city tree)
- Atomic Bomb Dome
- Itsukushima Shrine Otorii Gate
Details on sheet margins include:
G7 Hiroshima Summit logo mark, Pigeons, maples (Hiroshima Prefecture tree) and Nerium oleander (Hiroshima city flower)
silhouette
Designer: 玉木 明 | Akira Tamaki
Release date: May 7, 2023
Natural Landscapes
3rd in series
10 stamps on sheet, 2 cancels
offset
Designer: 貝淵 純子 Junko Kaibuchi
Release date: May 5, 2023
National land Reforestation (Iwate Prefecture)
5 stamps, cancel
offset
73rd National Arbor Planting Festival
- Southern Japanese red pine and Japanese dogwood
- Southern red pine, Japanese oak, Hana Leopard Tambok
- Tabunoki and Michinokunashi
- Oyamazakura and thicket camellia
- Keyaki Hamanasu
Designer: 楠田 祐士 Yuji Kusuda
Release date: May 5, 2023
June
Summer Greetings
20 stamps on two sheets
Designer:吉川 亜有美 | Ayumi Yoshikawa
Release date: June 6, 2023
Marine Creatures
7th in series
10 stamps on a sheet
The stamps in this set are sardines. The designers used a special process on the sheet to mimic the effect of schools of fish as they shimmer in the water as well as the look of sardine scales. Japan Post has done similar things with earlier shark stamps..
Designer: 星山 理佳 Hoshiyama Rika
Release date: June 6, 2023
July
Disney characters
2 sheets of 10 stamps, 2 cancels
offset
- Mickey and Nakamatachi
- Winnie the Pooh and Nakamatachi
Designer: 丸山 智 | Satoshi Maruyama
Release date: July 7, 2023
Honour of ふみの日 Fumi no Hi Day – Letter Writing Day
2 sheets of 10, 2 cancels
offset
Every July 7 a stamp is issued for Letter Writing Day. First established in 1975 as a regional campaign, and in 1979 became a nation wide event.
Designer: 山田 泰子 Yasuko Yamada
Release date: July 7, 2023
Word Art Day
5th in series
2 sheets of 10, 2 cancels
offset
Sheet one:
- High Relief Carved Vase with Pigeons and Cherry Blossoms (Part) Miyagawa Kozan I (National Crafts Museum)
- “Cherry Blossoms” (part) Kyuzo Hasegawa (Sohonzan Chishaku-in Temple)
- “Nachi Nachi” Okumura Togyu (Yamatane Museum of Art)
- “Star” (Part) Kitano Tsunetomi (Osaka City Museum of Art)
- “Kagetsu Flowers and Birds for the Twelve Months” (Part: Sakai Hoitsu ) (Idemitsu Museum of Arts)
- “Sleeping young model” Kojima Tora Jiro (Ohara Museum of Art)
- “Morning glory morning glory dog” (part) Maruyama Okyo (Tokyo National Museum)
- “Girl with a lace hat” (detail) Pierre-Auguste Renoir (Pola Museum of Art)
- “Snow Argenteuil” Claude Monet (National Museum of Western Art)
- “Polar Bear” (part) by François Pompom (Gunma Prefectural Tatebayashi Art Museum)
Sheet two:
- “High relief vase with doves and cherry blossoms” (of a pair Right) Kozan Miyagawa (National Crafts Museum)
- “Cherry Blossoms” (Part) Kyuzo Hasegawa (Sohonzan Chishaku-in Temple)
- “Castle” Okumura Togyu (Yamatane Museum of Art)
- “Star” Tsunetomi Kitano (Osaka City Museum of Art)
- “Folding screen with 12 months of flowers and birds” (Part) Hoichi Sakai (Idemitsu Museum of Arts)
- “Girl” Minami Kaoruzo ( National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo)
- Sugito with morning glory, dog (part) by Okyo Maruyama (Tokyo National Museum)
- “Interior with wife Ida playing the piano” Wilhelm Hammershoi (National Museum of Western Art)
- “Girl with a lace hat” Pierre Auguste Renoir (Pola Museum of Art)
“Polar Bear” Francois Pompom (Gunma Prefectural Tatebayashi Art Museum)
Designer: 楠田 祐士 | Yuji Kusuda
Release date: July 7, 2023
Autumn Greetings
2 sheets of 10, 2 cancels
offset
Annual series with a number of traditional autumn scenes
Designer: 貝淵 純子 Junko Kaibuchi
Release date: July 7, 2023
August
150th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Japan and Peru
10 stamps, 2 cancels
offset
- Nazca Geoglyphs
- Machu Picchu
- Rainbow Mountain
- Lake Titicaca
- Chan Chan Ruins
- Inti Raymi
- Ethnic musical instruments
- National costume
- Alpaca
- Peruvian cuisine
Designer:吉川 亜有美 | Ayumi Yoshikawa
Release date: August 8, 2023
September
Special National Sports Festival (Kagoshima)
10 stamps, cancel
offset
Designer: 山田 泰子 Yasuko Yamada
Release date: September 9, 2023
Posukuma
20 stamps, 2 cancels
offset
Designer: 星山 理佳 Rika Hoshiyama
Release date: September 9, 2023
50th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Japan and Viet Nam
10 stamps, 2 cancels
offset
- Rural scenery
- Opera House
- Halong Bay
- Hue Royal Palace
- Nihonbashi
- Da Nang beach
- Dragon Bridge
- Hoi An Lantern
- Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Line 1
- Townscape of Ho Chi Minh City
Designer: 丸山 智 | Satoshi Maruyama
Release date: September 9, 2023
Greeting (Life, Flowers)
30 stamps, 2 cancels
offset
Designer: 楠田 祐士 | Yuji Kusuda
Release date: September 9, 2023
International Writing Week
1 stamp, 2 cancels
offset
Designer: 玉木 明 | Akira Tamaki
Release date: September 9, 2023
Flower Colouring
new series
10 stamps, 2 cancels
offset
Flowers:
- rose
- Hypericum
- Winter sweets
- Cymbidium
- Chrysanthemum
Designer: 星山 理佳 Rika Hoshiyama
Release date: September 9, 2023
November
Lunar New Year – Year of the Dragon
4 stamps, 2 cancels
5 colour gravure
Japan continues with the Children’s Toy motif using Kawasaki Kyosen (1877~1942)’s drawings.
Designer: 吉川 亜有美 Ayumi Yoshikawa
Release date: November 1, 2023
Winter Greetings
20 stamps on two sheets, 2 cancels
offset
Sheet one:
(1) Knitting
(2) Sewing machine
(3) Books and cups
(4) Kettle
(5) Wool
(6) Cats and laundry
(7) Embroidery
(8) Cookies
(9) Making cookies
(10) Apple pie
Sheet Two:
(1) Long-eared owl
(2) Firewood
(3) Ten
(4) Camping equipment
(5) Pot-au-feu
(6) Lanterns, drinks
(7) Fried egg
(8) Fox
(9) Shoes, gloves, hats
(10) Grouse
Designer: 吉川 亜有美 | Ayumi Yoshikawa
Release date: November 22, 2023
December
The World of Picture Book Series Vol. 7
10 stamps on a sheet, 2 cancels
offset
(1) Cat
(2) Telephone
(3) Present
(4) Boris
(5) Nyanko and Anomaro
(6) Koharu
(7) Boris cuddling a cat
(8) Babysitting
(9) Boris, Nyanko and Anomaro
(10) Brothers
The World Picture Book stamps feature a different scene from Yuko Higuchi’s Cat in the World (Sekaichi no Neko) series.
『せかいいちのねこ』ヒグチユウコ作
The children’s book follows the life of toy cat Nyanko who wants to be a real cat. In his quest he meets all sorts of different cats.
Designer: 山田 泰子 Yasuko Yamada
Release date: December 6, 2023
Delicious Nippon Series Vol. 5
The fifth set in the popular series focuses on Okinawa.
Sheet one:
Focuses on popular snacks, local foods and fruits commonly found at public markets.
The back of the sheet features bitter gourd and tofu
(1) Tropical fruits
(2) Sanpin tea, Sata andagi
(3) Root beer, hamburger, curly fries
(4) Ice cream, Okinawa zenzai
(5) Pork egg rice ball bento
(6) Konpen, chinsuko, and red sweet potato tart
(7) Dried plums, fried sweets
(8) Manju
(9) Cursor Moochie
(10) Okinawa kamaboko
Sheet two:
Features the local cuisine of Okinawa. The backing shows colourful tropical fish that can be found in public markets.
(1) Thundabun
(2) Hijia soup
(3) Bitter gourd champuru
(4) Taco rice
(5) Mimiga, sukugarasu tofu, island rakkyo
(6) Rafute, soup inside
(7) Okinawa tempura
(8) Meebai giant clam sashimi
(9) Steak
(10) Okinawa soba, juicy
Designer: 吉川 亜有美 | Ayumi Yoshikawa
Release date: December 13, 2023
I have been trying to buy Japanese stamps but haven’t been able to get the link to their bureau. Could you please give me their link?
Yea, sorry, but I don’t have a link to their site that sells outside Japan. If I find one, I’ll send it to you.