Japan’s 2021 stamp program has some fabulous treasures. JP offers a mind-boggling number of products including some of the best cancels in the world. Correction – the best in the world. I’m a bit of a cancel hound, and I’m always on the lookout for interesting Canadian ones, but nothing Canada has compares to those offered by JP. In a previous article I mentioned how great some countries are in designing collectable cancels (see Poland 2021 Stamp Program – Poczta Polska). Japan’s cancels are richly detailed, and often offer up a touch of whimsy. If you are looking for a new area to collect, I recommend checking Japan’s 2021 stamp program to see this year’s post marks.

Japan Post offers collectors a deep well of information on stamps, designers, art and history. There was so much to explore, it took hours of sorting through JP’s website, translating with Google Translate, and trying to nail down what is being offered. The English version of the site is … well … spartan. It doesn’t offer the rich detail I found in the Japanese version. If you are patient, trolling through the Japanese site is well worth the effort. 

About the cancels

I found 18 cancels to post here. JP offers extra cancels, categorised as Landscape and Small Marks you can chase down. Each post mark is a miniature work of art:

I spent close to an hour wandering around the post mark selection and will spend time pulling together a special article on the cancels for this year.  The Nashigo cancel above is a small sampling of the artistry Japan’s stamp creators employ. It takes a skilled hand to design and draw artwork that will look good in large and small sizes. I’m excited at the prospect of tip toeing through the cancels.  

Local Framed Stamps

I’ve also included the beginnings of a special section for Japan’s Local Framed Stamps. This is a JP specialty. They are large, frameable, poster style sheets celebrating a specific event or locale. Collectors get a full-sized piece of artwork and stamps, sometimes up to 20! I’ve made my way through most of March, and decided it was time to finish the rest of the article and return to Framed Stamps later. 

Many of the sheets are specific to a prefecture and a limited run. Like the cancels, each prefecture issues their own, hence the term Local. I’ll eventually organise the LFS by prefecture and date to make it easy for collectors of Japanese stamps to find details. I need to sit and flesh out how I will present the Local Framed issues for Japan’s 2021 stamp program. It’s going to take some thought. 

This page will expand rapidly as the year progresses. Japan has a vigorous stamp program, and it will be a job keeping up with their releases. Sign up for my newsletter and receive updates and new articles direct to your inbox.  

Enjoy the beauty of the stamps. I’ll do the heavy lifting and pull everything together and you can cruise by and admire them. If you enjoy this page, think about donating via PayPal (in the footer) or the coffee cup on the bottom left. 

If you find an error in any of my translations, please leave a comment below.

Japan’s 2021 stamp program

January

Natural Landscapes

20 stamps, two booklet sheets, 2 cancels

Designer: Junko Kaibuchi 貝淵　純子
Previous designs include 2020 World Stamp Championship Exhibition 2021, 2016 World Tsunami Day and 2011 Chinese Zodiac Calligraphy

Release date: Jan 12, 2021

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Moomins

20 stamps, souvenir sheets, 2 cancels

Stamps on sheet one

• Snuk’s Jo and Little My and Mimura
• Little My, Moomin and Snok Josan
• Moomin Mom and MoominPapa Little My
• Moomin Mama and Little My
• Snufkin, Little My and Moomin
• Moomin, Little My and Stinky
• Nyoronolo and Little My
• Little My
• Little My and Sofus
• Moominpapa and Little My Moomin Mama

Stamps on sheet two

• Stinky and Sniff
• Little My
• Moomin Mama and Tooticki
• Moominpapa
• Moomin Yassi
• Mr. Mimura
• Snufkin
• Moomin
• Snuk’s Shop
• Chief

Designer: Ayami Yoshikawa 
From Tove Jansson’s Moomins

Release date: January 15, 2021

Read about this series here:   Calling all Moomins! 2021 will be a great Moomin New Year

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Japanese New Years
Crane and turtle motif

2 stamps, souvenir sheet

Release date: January 18, 2021

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Record of Nature
Series Vol.1
New series

10 stamps, sheet with daffodils in border, 2 cancels

 based on manuscripts depicting things of natural origin from a scientific point of view. 
Stamp Times Vol.9 Nature Record Series Vol. 1

• Narcissus
• Kankiku
• Sumire
• Magnolia kobus
• Mole / Shunran
• Gourd azalea
• Kodemari
• Crouching
• Bodhisattva
• Hydrangea

Designer: Rika Hoshiyama 星山  理佳
Previous designs include 2016 Flowers in Daily Life series 2 – Flower Arrangements & Roses, and 50th Anniversary of Singapore – Japan Diplomatic Relations, 2019 Japanese Traditional Color Series 3

With supervision by
Koichi Igarashi (Professor, Osaka University of Arts)
Art: Konoe Iehiro (1667-1736)

Margin: Line art of daffodils Yomei Bunko Collection “Makoto Hanaki Kaboku Shinsha

For details on the art and design, see 自然の記録シリーズ　第1集 | 日本郵便株式会社 (japanpost.jp). I use Google Translate, which offers an adequate translation. This is a fascinating description of the plants and history behind the drawings. Well worth the effort. 

Release date: January 22, 2021

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February

Celestial Bodies 
4th in series

10 stamps, transparent hologram foil, souvenir sheet, booklet of 25, 2 cancels

Designer: Satoshi Maruyama 丸山 智
Previous designs include 2020 Protection of Historical Sites & Natural Monuments Centenary and Upopoy – National Ainu Museum and Park, Shiraoi, Hokkaido, 2016 Japanese Traditional Crafts (Series 5) and Japanese Castle Series 6

With images from stock photo, NASA, SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
A full list of photos and images used can be found here: 天体シリーズ第４集｜郵便局のネットショップ (japanpost.jp) Use Google Translate to read the page.  

Release date: Feb 3, 2021

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Spring Greetings Flowers
New series: Vol 1 Nature

Designer: Rika Hoshiyama 星山　理佳
Previous designs include 2016 Flowers in Daily Life series 2 – Flower Arrangements & Roses, and 50th Anniversary of Singapore – Japan Diplomatic Relations, 2019 Japanese Traditional Color Series 3

Plants and animal motifs in water colour style

Japan Post’s Feb newsletter has some fascinating details on how this series was created. 切手タイムズVol.10　春のグリーティング | 日本郵便株式会社 (japanpost.jp) 

Release date: Feb 19, 2021

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Japan’s 2021 stamp program March 

Chart 150
150th anniversary of the start of full-fledged waterway operations in which Japan uses modern technology alone to consistently conduct every year from marine surveys to chart production.

5 stamps, sheet, 2 cancels

• Nautical Chart No. 1  Rikuchu Kamaishi Port Map and Surveying ship “Kasuga”
• Multi-beam echo sounding survey by ship
• Tools (sextant) 
•  Laser sounding survey by aircraft
• Current nautical chart “Kamaishi Port” and large survey vessel “Peace”

Designer: Junko Kaibuchi 貝淵純子
For previous designs see Jan 2021 Natural Landscapes for details & May’s Japanese Culture & Traditions

Release date: March 12, 2021

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March – local framed stamps – Japan’s 2021 stamp program

World Ran Exhibition 2021
 Festival of Flowers and Greenery
Local framed stamp

5 stamps, 1 sheet

Release date: March 5, 2021

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GIFU AIR BASE 2020 
F－4 Last Flight
Local framed stamp

SOLD OUT as of March 8, 2021. There may be a reprint so keep checking Japan Post’s website 

1 stamp sheet (84-yen stamp 5 sheets seal type), mount

Japanese Air Force bids farewell to last F-4EJ squadron (aerotime.aero) 

Release date: March 5, 2021

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Mazda’s 100th Anniversary
Local framed stamp

1 sheet (84-yen stamp 10 sheets seal type), A3 bi-fold mount 1 sheet

Release date: March 5, 2021

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KADOKAWA Light Novel EXPO 2020

Commemorative Frame Stamp Set

1 sheet (63-yen stamp 20 sheets seal type), 20 postcards × (20 types), 1 frame stamp × sheet

Release date: March 6, 2021

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Thank you Tantan
Local framed stamp

10 stamps, 1 sheet

Tantan, a panda at the zoo in Kobe, returned to China last year.

Release date: March 8, 2021

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Mongolian Host Town frame stamps –  Town, Aomori Prefecture
Local framed stamp

1 sheet, 84-yen stamp 10 sheets seal type 

Release date: March 05, 2021

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35th anniversary of the birth of Saeki-ku, Hiroshima City and the 15th anniversary of the yushi-cho merger
Local framed stamp

1 sheet (84-yen stamp 10 sheets seal type)

Release date: March 05, 2021

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Scenery The Hitachi Mountains
Local framed stamp

1 sheet (84-yen stamp 10 sheets seal type)

Release date: March 06, 2021

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April  

Omotenashi 
no Hana Series Vol.16
Hospitality Flower Series Vol. 16

20 stamps, 2 strips, 2 cancels

Yellow sheet

• Jasmine
• marigolds
• delphinium carnations
• shakuyaku
• roses

Blue sheet

• Giboshi
• Sunflower
• Tokeisou
• Hydrangea Rose
• Glorisa 

Designer: Hitomi Nakamaru 中丸 ひとみ
Previous designs include 2016 Spring Cleaning, 2014 Spring Gift of Roses, 2012 Winter Santa Claus Decorated Christmas Tree

Release date: April 1, 2021

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Greetings
Simple greetings for all occasions

2 stamps, sheets

Release date: April 14, 2021

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150 years since the founding of Stamp Hobby Week and Postal Service
Stamp Hobby Week

10 stamps, souvenir sheet, booklet

the theme is a work related to the mail, a picture drawing by Japanese painter Shinya Shibata “a picture of postal handling”, and a picture scroll “Postal Current Business Picture Scroll” by Japanese painter Yone Kubota 僊. JP post

Release date: April 20, 2021

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Happy Greetings

Designer: Yasuko Yamada 山田 泰子
Previous designs include 2017 The World of Children’s Picture Book Series 1 “Where’s the Fish?”, 2019 150th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations with Austria, 150th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations with Hungary, The World of Children’s Picture Book Series 3

Release date: April 23, 2021

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May

Natural Monuments
Sixth in series
Scenery of “mountain stream” 

•  Ruddy Kingfisher
• Gray wagtail
• Narcissus flycatcher
• Hondo Momonga
• Flaccid anemone
• Antelope
• Anemone pseudoalta
• Blue-and-white fly
• Flow of Tanigoke and Oirase
• Hondoten

The scenery of Lake Towada and the Oirase Mountain Stream, which has been designated as a “Special Scenic Spot and Natural Monument”, and the animals and plants that inhabit it are expressed with realistic illustrations.
Japan Post

10 stamps, souvenir sheet

Designer: Satoshi Maruyama  丸山　智
Previous designs include 2020 Protection of Historical Sites & Natural Monuments Centenary, 2016 Japanese Architecture Series 1, 60th Anniv of Enforcement of the Local Autonomy Law  and 201368th National Sports Festival 

Release date: May 10, 2021

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Greeting – life with flowers
Florist store front

20 stamps, 2 sheets

Designer: Rika Hoshiyama

Release date: May 17, 2021

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Japanese Tradition and Culture Series Vol.4

About the design of postage stamps to be issued. A part of the pattern expressed by the whole picture and beautiful embroidery and dyeing from the “kimono” of the Edo-Showa period Is designed to fit the stamps in a slightly colorful way.

Of the 10 types of “kimono”, the 84-yen sheet is designed with the overall picture of 5 types and his other 5 types of footwear patterns.  The 63-yensheet has 10 types of kimono patterns, including 5 types of kimono that use the overall picture of the 84-yen sheet.
Stamp information sheet, Japan Post

20 stamps on 2 sheets

Designer: Junko Kaibuchi 貝淵純子

Release date: May 21, 2021

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National Land Greening (Shimane Prefecture)
To commemorate the 71st National Tree-Planting Festival, which is the central event of national land greening, will be held in Shimane Prefecture

• koyamaki and sagi
• red pine and walnut
• buttons and shimane prefectures
• black pine and enoki
• rhesus rhesus and yamazakura

4 stamps, sheet, cancel

Designer: Rika Hoshiyama

Release date: May 26, 2021

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Japan’s 2021 stamp program for June

Summer Greetings

12 stamps, 2 sheets of 6, 2 cancels

• Sprouts
• Poppi
• Rape blossoms
• Strawberry
• Rabbit
• Cat and Butterfly

• tulip
• dandelion
• rattan
• Panji
• Camellias and small birds
• Inu and Cherry Blossoms

With the theme of Japanese summer, we express the coolness of summer with cool motifs and colors such as shaved ice, uchiwa, and goya green curtains

Designer: Rika Hoshiyama 

Release date: June 1, 2021

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National Treasure 
Series Vol.2

 

20 stamps, cancels 2 sheets of 10

Paintings & crafts from the middle of Muromachi to the early Edo period

Designer: Satoshi Maruyama 

Release date: June 16, 2021

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Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games

75 stamps, 3 sheets

Release date: June 23, 2021

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150th Anniversary of the Modern Monetary System

10 stamps, sheet, 2 cancels

• as lamps from the Mint’s collection
• Stamping machine at the time of the founding of the Mint
• The main entrance of the former mint dormitory foundry
• Balance from the Mint’s collection
• Shigenobu Okuma
• Modern Monetary System 150th Anniversary Coins
• silver coin
• gold coin
• copper coin

Designer: Ayami Yoshikawa 

Release date: June 25, 2021

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July 

Whale Shark
Marine series

10 stamps, sheet with a texture mimicking shark’s skin,2 cancels

Designer: Rika Hoshiyama 

Release date: July 1, 2021

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Pokeman

 

10 stamps, 1 sheet, cancels

Designer: Yuji Kusuda using Nintendo’s Pokeman characters

Release date: July 7, 2021

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Fumi-no-Day

20 stamps, 2 sheets of 10, 2 cancels

“63-yen sheet is a mountainside living, and the 84-yen sheet is based on a retro townscape”

Sheet one:

• Post post
• bicycle
• Houses and mail cars
• wire
• country

Sheet two:

• store
• Barber’s Room
• café
• bathhouse
• Post post and delivery bikes

Designer: Yuji Kusuda 

Release date: July 21, 2021

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August Japanese stamps

 

Box set, sheet of 10 stamps, pokeman cards
will use the cancels from the July 7 Pokeman stamps

Release date:  August 25, 2021

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Autumn Greetings

2 souvenir sheets of 10

Designer/artist: 山田泰子 Yasuko Yamada

制作秘話:秋の草花のアレンシメントを水彩で優しく描きました。大切な人にお手紙で秋の彩りを伝えていたたければ幸いです。
山田泰子

I gently painted autumn flowers with watercolours. I would be happy if you could convey the colors of autumn, by letter, to important people in your life. Yasuko Yamada, artist

Release date: August 16, 2021

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• “Beauty in Return” by Shisen Hishikawa
• “Moon Goose” by Hiroshige  Utagaw

Special Edition Sheets

• A beautiful girl in the world” 
• (Daughter reading letters)” By Kunisada  Utagawa

 

From top left to right:

1. Maejima Dense (Red)
2. Maejima Dense (Green)
3. Maejima Dense (Blue)
4. Maejima Dense (Purple)
5.  Maejima Dense (Peach)
6. Maejima Dense (Yellow)

Special Edition Info Paperback Book 

Special Edition Folder

10 stamps, souvenir sheets, souvenir folder, special edition booklet

Release date: August 25, 2021

September

76th National Sports Festival

10 stamps on a souvenir sheet

• weightlifting
• tennis
• wrestling
• handball
• Sailing
• Jiuhua Park
• Takada Honzan Senshuji Temple
• Okage Yokocho
• Kokokei
• Lion Rock

Mascots Mie and Ko waka appear in the margins

Annual 11 day tournament – Saturday, September 25, 2021 to Tuesday, October 5,  2021

Designer: 丸山 智 Satoshi Maruyama 

Release date: Sept. 3, 2021

World of Art Series Vol. 3 – theme The Green World

Release date: Sept. 8, 2021

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20 stamps on mini sheets (2 stamps show same Posukuma profile), 2 cancels

2021 celebrates the 150th anniversary of the founding of postal mail, the Japanese postal system is designed based on the British system … so we have set the theme [in the]  UK and adopted tartan check, which is a symbolic presence in the UK, as the background of the stamp sheet Japan Post info sheet July 15, 2021

The tartan used in this design is Posukuma and Friends Colorful, which is officially registered with the Scottish Tartan Registry

Designer: 中丸ひとみ Hitomi  Nakamaru 

Release date: Sept. 15, 2021

Happy Greetings 

10 stamps on a sheetlet, 2 cancels

Designer: Ayami Yoshikawa 吉川 亜有美

Release date: Sept. 22, 2021

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100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Uruguay

10 stamps on a sheet, 2 cancels

• Palacio Salvo
• Landscapes of Uruguay
• Casa pueblo
• Colonia del Sacramento
• mate
• Southern Lapwing ( National Bird )
• Thriving agriculture and pastoral work
• carnival
• gaucho
• Children playing soccer

“I drew the scenery, culture, and living things that symbolize uruguay with a gentle touch.” Yasuko  Yamada 

Designer: 山田 泰子 Yasuko Yamada using original photos by Monica Chavez Altez, Enzo Gonzalo Vignoli Moreno, Evangelina Espiga and Mariainés Travieso Rios

Release date: Sept. 22, 2021

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October stamps

50th anniversary of the founding of the japan agency for marine-marine-science and technology
Created in conjunction with research vessels & probes owned by Jamsted 

10 stamps on a sheet, 2 cancels

• Marine research ship “Unashima” and deep sea diving research ship support mother ship “Yossa”
• Deep Earth Exploration Ship “Kyu”
• Manned submersible research vessel “Shinkai 2000”
• Autonomous unmanned spacecraft “Dingbei” and autonomous unmanned spacecraft “Yumei-eru”
• Manned submersible research vessel “Shinkai 6500”

Designer: 玉木 明  M. Tamakia

Release date: Oct. 1, 221

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4 sheets of 10 stamps, 2 cancels

Designer: 玉木 明  Akira Tamaki

Release date: Oct. 8, 2021

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Natural Landscape
1st in series

 

sheet of 10 stamps, two cancels

• Takiun from Edayaki Pass (Niigata)
• Sengokuhara Pampas grass (Kanagawa)
• Cosmos at Hamakyu Garden (Tokyo)
• Curtain of water at Nabega falls (Kumamoto)
• Lake Chuzenji Chitedahama (Tochigi)
• Autumn leaves of Ka arashikei reflected on the river surface (Aichi Prefecture)
• Strange rocks of Jodogahama (Iwate)
• Sunset over Shukumo Bay (Kochi)
• Dawn of Matsushima in Winter (Miyagi Prefecture)

Margin: Autumn leaves in Biei Town (Hokkaido)

Designer: 貝淵 純子 Junko Kaibuchi
Photographers: ）檀林 正浩 Danrin Masahiro,  縄手 英樹Hideki Nawate,  山梨 勝弘 Katsuhiro Yamanashi, 三小田 智子 Mita Tomoko, 星乃 滋 Shigeru Hoshino, 小川 和夫 Kazuo Ogawa, 後藤 昌美 Goto Masami, 田中 幸男 Koo Tanaka, 山口 博之  Hiroyuki Yamaguchi,  五島 健司 Goto Kenji
Margin designer: 熊田 喜浩 Yoshihiro Kumada

Release date: Oct. 13, 2021

Omotenashi (Hospitality) No Hana
Series Vol. 17

20 stamps on 2 sheets, 2 cancels

Designer: 中丸 ひとみ Hitomi Nakamaru 

Release date: Oct. 20, 2021

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November

New Year Greetings – Year of the Tiger

 

 

 

4 stamps, 2 cancels

Kyosen Kawasaki
Yamashina Bishamon-do Majo Papier-mache Tiger Face

From the drawings (toy paintings) of local toys drawn by Kawasaki Kyosen (1877-1942), we are looking at each one in the life of next year’s Eboshi Eshi and the [Lunar New Year – Year of the Tiger]. 

Born in 1877 in Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture, Kawasaki Kyosen worked as a gatekeeper for ukiyo-e artist Yoshinoki Nakai before turning into a design artist who produced commercial advertisements and newspaper advertisements. After that, he made a () () () living by collecting local toys and collecting shu by distributing works depicting local toys (toy paintings) from the end of the Meiji era to the early Showa period. The sketchbook of the brushstrokes left by Kyosen (“Toy Book” and “Kyosen Toy Book”) was donated to the Nakanoshima Library in Osaka Prefecture and preserved as the “Mermaid Cave Library”.

There are more than 5,000 kinds of toys taken up in the giant spring, and it is valuable as a material for local toys that are gradually disappearing with the times.  
From Japanese pamphlet 郵趣のための押印サービス等 (japanpost.jp)

Artists: Kawasaki Kyosen  
Designer: 吉川 亜有美 Ayami Yoshikawa 

Release date:  November 1, 2021

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Greetings

1 stamp, sheets of 50

The 84 indicates the stamp cost

Designer: 玉木 明 Akira Tamaki

Release date: November 5, 2021

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Nagoya Food 
Yummy Nippon Series Vol.3

   

20 stamps on 2 sheets, 2 cancels

Nagoya Food Guide – 20 Local Foods in Nagoya and Where to Find Them (nagoyafoodie.com)

I’ve included the original Japanese in the list. Translations don’t always work, so if you spot an error, please feel free to leave a comment. 

Sheet one:

• エビフライサンド、アイスコーヒー
• 鉄板ナポリタン
• シロノワール、生レモンスカッシュ
• アントースト、プリン、コーヒー
• お茶と銘菓
• 天むす、守口漬
• ラーメン、クリームぜんざい
• 鬼まんじゅう、おこしもの
• ういろう、ゆかり
• しるこサンド、駄菓子

• Fried shrimp sandwich, iced coffee
• Iron Plate Neapolitan
• Sironoir, Raw Lemon Squash
• Un toast, pudding, coffee
• Tea and Famous Confectionery
• Tenso, Moriguchi pickles
• Ramen, Cream Zenzai
• Onimanju, Okoshi-10
• Uyro, Yukari
• Syrako Sand, Candy

Sheet two:

• ひつまぶし
• 台湾ラーメン
• ころきしめん
• 手羽先
• 味噌カツ
• 菜飯田楽
• 味噌煮込みうどん
• 名古屋コーチン ひきずり鍋
• どてやき
• 味噌おでん
• Hitubuss
• Taiwan Ramen
• Koro-Kishimen
• Chicken wings
• Miso Cutlet
• Raku Naiida
• Miso stewed udon noodles
• Nagoya Cocton Hikari-Nabe
• Dotedyer
• Miso Oeden

Designer: 吉川 亜有美 Ayami Yoshikawa 

Release date: November 11, 2021

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Winter Greetings

 

10 stamps, 2 sheets of 10, 2 cancels

Red Sheet:

（1） Red Bird
（2） lantern
（3） poinsettia
（4） Winter Letters
（5） Apple

Blue Sheet:

（1） Rotary candle stand
（2） sledge
（3） wolf
（4） gift
（5） reindeer

Designer: 星山 理佳 Rika Hoshiyama

Release date: November 19, 2021

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Picture Book World Series vol.5

10 stamps on a sheet, 2 cancels

Images from “Shirokuma-chan’s Hotokeki” / しろくまちゃんのほっとけーき (kogumasha) by Ken Wakayama (1972).

Release date: November 26, 2021

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Devil’s Blade – anime tv and movie series

15 stamps on a sheet, 2 cancels

Devil’s Blade is an anime series based on 吾峠 呼世晴 Koyoharu Gotoge’s manga art work. 

Release date: November 26, 2021

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December

Peter Rabbit

10 stamps on a sheet, 2 cancels

From Beatrix Potter’s artwork

Release date: December 10, 2021

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