Bitter Grounds Magazine

stamps, espresso & conversation

The excellence of Japan’s 2022 stamps

Written by catpaw
January 14, 2022

Are you ready for a trip through Japan’s 2022 stamps? If you want a thumbnail scan of Japan’s rich, beautiful culture, food and history, there is no better way than through Japanese philately.  I’ve been looking forward to the new season of stamps and postmarks for weeks. And finally, I get to indulge.

There were so many stamps last year worthy of mention, it was hard to narrow down a favourite, so I adhered to my motto – always go with the food, especially if noodles are involved. 

Delicious Japan  

The strip of stamps comes from the Nagoya Food |Yummy Nippon Series Vol.3 set from November 2021. It featured various specialty dishes from the region.  Designer 吉川 亜有美 Ayami Yoshikawa makes a return this year with Edo-Tokyo Series Vol.2 set. And yes, it has noodles. And cats. A winning combo in one set. 

But it’s Japan’s cancels that really popped my retina’s last year. I have been a cancel hound for decades but I was not prepared for the details I found in Japan Post’s tiny, exquisite pieces of art.  Can I pick a favourite? Oof! Not possible. How about 5 of my favs? Each one is listed for slightly different reasons. 

Scan of 2 Japanese postal cancels showing MoominsNational treasures cancel 1Green Art cancel one Japan's 2021 stamp programYear of Tiger cancel   

The Moomins made the list because … come on, they are Moomins! ‘nuf said. The next was from June’s National Treasure Series Vol.2.  It has a powerful, traditional design that, on close examination shows amazing detailed movement.  The fourth, from the World of Art Series Vol. 3 – theme The Green World, grabbed me because I feel like I can run my fingers down the vase and feel the cool, smooth jade.  The  last because it’s a great sinewy tiger from the New Year Greetings – Year of the Tiger and he’s lovely. 

I’m already happy with Japan’s 2022 stamps. Their first set had this winning combo. 

My Travel cat Series Vol.7 Japan 2022 sheet one cat on stemps cancel My Travel cat Series Vol.7 Japan 2022 sheet one cat on stemps

Japanese philately has turned into a passion project.  I’m not sure what it is about Japanese stamps but I get a great deal of joy in researching and translating the topics and themes for you. It can be hit and miss at times, so if you spot an error, please offer a correction. Both readers and myself would appreciate it. I’ll try to restrain myself with the external links, but if noodles and cats appear, all bets are off. 

Enjoy
Catpaw

January

My Travel Stamp Series Vol.7 
Landscapes and specialties from Onomichi and Kurashiki

Cat on stairs cancel Blue jeans cancel

My Travel Stamp Series Vol.7 Japan 2022 sheet two  My Travel Stamp Series Vol.7 Japan 2022 sheet one

19 stamps on two sheets
6 colour offset

Images on sheet one:

  1. Tennei-ji Temple Three-Story Pagoda 
  2. Onomichi Channel 
  3. Onomichi Ramen Onomichi Ramen Kukai | CHUGOKU+SHIKOKU×TOKYO (JAPAN) (chushikokuandtokyo.org)
  4. Setoda Sunset Beach
  5. Innoshima Suigun Castle 
  6. Kurashiki Bikan District 1  
  7. Kurashiki Bikan District 2
  8. Peaches and Muscat
  9. jeans
  10. Seto-Ohashi Bridge

Images on sheet two: 

  1. Kurashiki Bikan District
  2. Fruit Parfait
  3. Kurashiki Ivy Square
  4. Okayama Banshi
  5. Senkojiyama Ropeway
  6. Senko-ji Temple
  7. Cat of Onomichi – well, I did not see this coming! Onomichi Cat Alley is a Cat Lover’s Paradise: Prepare to Lose Your Mind (japanjourneys.jp)
  8. lemon
  9. Lemon Field and Tatara Bridge  

Visit Onomichi 尾道市ホームページ トップページ (city.onomichi.hiroshima.jp) and Hiroshima Cultural Encyclopedia – Time-honored Temples and Onomichi Channel – (hiroshima-bunka.jp)
Info on Kurashiki Kurashiki Guide | JapanVisitor Japan Travel Guide

Designer: Yuji Kusuda | 楠田 祐士 
Kusuda designed the 2020 Traditional Musical Instruments stamps and 2021’s Pokeman, Letter Writing Day (Fumi-no-Day) and World of Art Series Vol. 3 – theme The Green World stamps.

Photographers:  Koichi Shudo, Araki Noriyuki, Nishikawa Takayuki, Tsunoda, Nobuaki, Tetsuya Tsuji, Miyamoto Takahiro, Ryoji Nishigaki, Takahiro Miyamoto, Noriyuki Araki, Goto Kenji |写 真 撮 影: 首藤 光一, 荒木 則行, 西川 貴之, 角田 展章, 辻 哲弥, 宮本 孝廣, 西垣 良次, 宮本 孝廣, 荒木 則行, 五島 健司

Release date: January 14, 2022


Nature’s Record Series Vol.2

Natures record series Owl cancel Natures record series bird cancel

Spring Greetings 2022

10 stamps on a sheet, 2 cancels
6 colour offset

Birds, reading from right to left:

  • green peafowl
  • great spotted woodpecker
  • Java sparrows
  • ruddy kingfisher 
  • blue and white flycatcher
  • Mandarin duck
  • Nue thrush
  • bantam (dwarf) chicken
  • kobata
  • rabbit owl 

Please note: the names above are the bird names, not the original notations made from the Edo artist’s description. Many of the labels did not translate well, so I’ve left them off. 

Artwork from the Edo period. If you enjoy this style of drawing, check out Bird art of the Edo Period in Japan – BIRDINGBLOGS.COM for more. For a more detailed look at Edo art, try the Smithsonian’s very approachable article Birds and Bards: Beautiful Japanese Images from the Edo Period | At the Smithsonian | Smithsonian Magazine. 

From Takizawa Bakin  曲亭 馬琴 (also known as  Kyokutei Bakin 曲亭 馬琴, (1767 – 1848) 6th volume of his book Bird Mirror 禽鏡 (not sure if that translated correctly). Illustrations for this book were done by Mikakuju (Kyoshu)  美覚重(赫州)

Designer: Rika Hoshiyama  | 星山 理佳
Hoshiyama designed 7 issues for Japan Post last year. They included the first in the Nature’s Record series and the Spring, Summer & Winter Greetings issues. 

Release date: January 24, 2022


February

Greetings (Life and Flowers)

Greetings Japan 2022 cancel 21 Greetings Japan 2022 cancel 1

Spring Greetings Japan 2022 2 Spring Greetings Japan 2022

20 stamps on 2 sheets, 2 cancels
6 colour offset

Sheet one:

  • Dahlia
  • Dandelion
  • Yoimachigusa  
  • Otsubaki  
  • White flowers
  • Flowers and birds
  • Rose
  • Primrose
  • Ginkgo
  • Commelina communis

Margins:

  • Rose
  • Roses and birds

Sheet two:

  • Vine flower
  • Camellia
  • Red flowers
  • Strawberries
  • Rose
  • Houttuynia cordata
  • Lily of the valley
  • Inuta
  • Rape blossoms
  • Alpine plants

Margins:

  • Vine flower
  • Diamond

Designer: Designer: Junko Kaibuchi | 貝淵 純子 using Yumeji Takehisa’s (て著名な竹久夢二 ) illustrations.
Yumeji Takehisa – Taisho Romanticism and the Roots of Kawaii – Japanese Kawaii Culture 
トップページ(英語) | 夢二郷土美術館 (yumeji-art-museum.com) Available in a number of languages including Japanese and English

Release date: February 1, 2022


Framed Stamps – Beijing Olympic Winners

Bronze –  Ski Snowboard Women’s Halfpipe Sena Tomita | スキー スノーボード 女子ハーフパイプ 冨田 せな 選手

Ski Snowboard Women's Halfpipe Tomita Sena   

Bronze – Skating Figure Skating Men’s Single Shoma Uno | スケート フィギュアスケート 男子シングル 宇野 昌磨 選手

Skating Figure Skating Men's Single Masama Uno 

Silver –  Skating Figure Skating Men’s Single Yuma Kagiyama | スケート フィギュアスケート 男子シングル 鍵山 優真 選手

Skating Figure Skating Men's Single Yuma Kagiyama

Gold – Ski Snowboard Men’s Halfpipe Ayumu Hirano | スキー スノーボード 男子ハーフパイプ 平野 歩夢 選手 
image coming soon

Ski Jump Men’s Normal Hill Ryoyu Kobayashi | スキー ジャンプ 男子ノーマルヒル 小林 陵侑 選手

Ski Freestyle Men's Mogul Yukima Horishima

Bronze – Ski Freestyle Men’s Mogul Ikuma Horishima | スキー フリースタイル 男子モーグル 堀島 行真 選手

Ski Freestyle Men's Mogul Yukima Horishima

Silver – Skating Speed Skating Women’s 1,500m Miho Takagi | スケート スピードスケート 女子1,500m 髙木 美帆 選手

Skating Speed Skating Women's 1,500m Miho Takagi

Each set includes 5 stamps on a frameable sheet
1000 copies each on sale for a limited time. 

** I’ve tried to keep each name correct and have included the original Japanese for visitors from Japan. If I have anything reversed or in the wrong place, please don’t hesitate to let me know and I’ll correct it immediately. 

Release date: February 12, 2022


Spring Greetings

Spring greetings Japan 2022 cancel two Spring greetings Japan 2022 cancel one 

Spring greetings Japan 2022 sheet two Spring greetings Japan 2022 sheet one

20 stamps on 2 sheets, 2 cancels 
6 colour offset

発行する郵便切手のデザインについて
春のおたよりを春らしく華やかに彩るよう季節感を表現しました。
春のガーデニングをテーマに、色とりどりの春の草花の寄せ植えを水彩で優しく描いています。

I expressed the feeling of the season so that [the stamps] will be colorfully colored like spring. With the theme of spring gardening, the colorful spring flowers are gently drawn in watercolor. Yasuko Yamada

Designer: Yasuko Yamada | 山田 泰子 
Previous designs include the 2021 Greetings series (Spring, Autumn) as well as the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Uruguay stamps

Release date: February 15, 2022


Jewelry and Minerals – the Art of Nature 

Gems and minerals cancel 2 Japan 2022 Gems and minerals cancel 1 Japan 2022

Gems and minerals Japan 2022Gems and minerals Japan 2022

10 stamps on 2 sheets, 2 cancels
6 colour offset

Sheet one:

  • Red beryl
  • Tanzanite
  • Emerald
  • Citrine
  • Pearl
  • Mandarin Garnet
  • Fluorite
  • Rhodochrosite
  • Aquamarine
  • Tourmaline

Sheet two:

  • Fire opal
  • Blue sapphire
  • Diamond
  • Ruby
  • Jade
  • Peridot
  • Pink spinel
  • Paraiba Tourmaline
  • Amethyst
  • Imperial Topaz

TAAF issues a yearly gemstone stamp. If you like gemstones and minerals, you can see the 2022 stamp here TAAF 2022 stamps OH YEA! | Bitter Grounds Magazine. Skip down a few stamps to see the Serpentine stamp.

Designer: Rika Hoshiyama  | 星山 理佳

Release date: February 22, 2022


March

Edo-Tokyo Series Vol.2

Edo Japan 2022 cancel two Edo Japan 2022 cancel one

Edo Japan 2022 sheet one Edo Japan 2022 sheet two

20 stamps on 2 sheets, 2 cancels
6 colour offset

Scenery and things of Edo & Tokyo

Sheet one:

Sheet two:

edo-tokyo museum (edo-tokyo-museum.or.jp) available in a number of languages. The museum also has a YouTube channel Edo-Tokyo Museum [Official] – YouTube

Designer: Ayami Yoshikawa 吉川 亜有美
Yoshikawa designed 3 stamps in 2021 – Happy Greetings, Year of the Tiger, and the divine Nagoya Food Yummy Nippon Series Vol.3

Release date:  March 3, 2022


Greetings

Greetings Japan Post 2022  

Greetings

21 stamp, 2 sheets of 50, 2 panes of 10
4 colour offset

Designer: Satoshi Maruyama | 丸山 智 

Release date: March 17, 2022


April

Omotenashi no Hana Series Vol. 18

Omotenashi no Hana Series Vol. 18  

記念押印・引受消印

2 sheets of 5

Sheet one (pink): 

(1) Carnation
(2) Begonia
(3) Bougainvillea
(4) Columbine
(5) Rose

Sheet two (blue):
(1) Carnation Baby’s-breath
(2) Sunflower
(3) Handkerchief ? didn’t translate well
(4) Azalea
(5) Rose

Designer: 中丸 ひとみ | Hitomi Nakamaru

Release date: April 6, 2022


Happy Greetings | ハッピーグリーティング

Happy greetings Japan 2022 cancel one Happy Greetings Japan 2022 cancel two 

Happy Greetings sheet one Happy Greetings sheet three Happy Greetings sheet two

3 stamps on sheets, 2 cancels
offset & foil

Designer: 楠田 祐士 | Yuji Kusuda

Release date: April 13, 2022


Stamp Hobby Week

Stamp Hobby Week 2022 Japan cancel one Stamp Hobby Week 2022 Japan cancel twojpg

Stamp Hobby Week 2022 Japan sheet of stamps Stamp Hobby Week 2022 Japan

3 stamps on a souvenir sheets of 12, souvenir page
3 ukiyo-e artworks are showcased on this set

Artists:

  • Kitagowa Utamaro  喜多川 歌麿; c. 1753 – 31 October 1806  Woman Exhaling Smoke from a Pipe from his Ten Classes of Women’s Physiognomy  
  • Toshusai Sharaku 東洲斎 写楽  The Actor Ichikawa Ebizo in the Role of Takemura Sadanoshin 
  • Suzuki Harunobu 鈴木 春信 c. 1725 – 8 July 1770  Playing with a Temari ball
     

Stamp Hobby Week dates to 1947 when it was introduced by the Ministry of Communications. It’s aim was to promote awareness of the cultural importance of stamps because they promote Japan’s art, culture and history. 

Designer: 玉木 明 | Akira Tamaki

Release date: April 20, 2022


May

50th Anniversary of Okinawa’s Return

50th Anniversary of Okinawa's Return 50th Anniversary of Okinawa's Return 

50th Anniversary of Okinawa's Return

6 stamps on sheets of 12, 2 cancels

  • 特産品 Specialty goods
  • 文化・芸能 Specialty goods
  • 歴史 history
  • 自然  nature
  • 沖縄振興 Okinawa promotion

Okinawa was returned to Japan on May 15, 1972, after 27 years under US control. If you are interested in learning more, check out Okinawa Reversion Series – Okinawa Memories Initiative

Designer: 星山 理佳 | Rika Hoshiyama

Release date: May 13, 2022


Greetings (simple)

 simple greetings blue stamps

simple greetings orange stamps

2 stamps on sheets of 50

Designer: 丸山 智 | Satoshi Maruyama

Release date: May 18, 2022


National Land Forestation in Shiga

National land greening cancel one National land greening cancel two 

National Land Greening (shiga)

5 stamps on sheets of 10, 2 cancels

  • Horse chestnut
  • Acer palmatum
  • Black pine and Lake Biwa  
  • Honshakunage
  • Quercus acuta

Commemorates the 72nd national tree planting festival

Designer: 楠田 祐士 | Yuji Kusuda

Release date: May 25, 2022


June

Summer Greetings

Summer Greetings cancel two shaved ice Summer Greetings cancel one morning glories 

Summer Greetings sheet two Summer Greetings sheet one

2 sheets of 10, 2 cancels
6 colour offset

Green Sheet:

  1. Hydrangea
  2. lavender
  3. Morning glory
  4. Kisuge and rainbow
  5. Lilium speciosum
  6. Sun Flower
  7. Goldfish
  8. watermelon
  9. shaved ice
  10. Wind chime
    (Margin) Sunbeams

Blue Sheet:

  1. Sea and sandy beach
  2. Coral reefs and tropical fish
  3. tropical fish
  4. Seaside bindweed
  5. Morning glory
  6. Frog
  7. Cumulonimbus and rainbow
  8. Sunflower field
  9. Golden-rayed lily
  10. firework
    (Margins) Ripples of the sea

Photographers: 

Green Sheet:
(1), (8) Masahiro Danrin
(2) Shuji Sakuno
(3) GYRO PHOTOGRAPHY
(4) Noboru Nakamura
(5) Jun Hayashi
(6) Makoto Yamamoto
(7) AID / ailead
(9) Yosuke Tanaka
(10) Nobuyuki Yoshikawa
(Margin) Lee Seung Hun

Blue sheet:
(1) Nobuaki Tsunoda
(2), (3) Kyu Furumi
(4) Takahiro Miyamoto
(5), (7) Eye Plan Photo Office
vinegar
(6) Takao Onosato
(8) Takao Furukawa
(9) Jun Hayashi
(10) Shusuke Goto
(Margin) Keiji Komatsu

Designer: Junko Kaibuchi |  切手デザイン 貝淵 純子  

Release date: June 1, 2022


Greetings – Life and Flowers

greetings (life and flowers) cancel one greetings (life and flowers) cancel two

greetings (life and flowers) sheet two greetings (life and flowers) sheet one

2 sheets of 10
6 colour offset

Designer: Ayumi Yoshikawa |  切手デザイン 吉川亜有美

Release date: June 8, 2022


50th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations Between Japan and Mongolia

Japan 2022 cancel Mongolia relations 2 Japan 2022 cancel Mongolia relations

Japan 2022 Mongolia

10 stamps on souvenir sheet, 2 cancels

(1) Altay Tawan Bogd
(2) Eagle Hunter
(3) Reindeer grazing
(4) Wolves (Eurasian wolves)
(5) Scabiosa comosa
(6) Gel (not sure if ゲル translated correctly)
(7) Amur Ito (Taimen)
(8) Grazing scenery
(9) Bactrian camel and Gobi Desert
(10) Large dinosaur Saurolophus and footprints (reconstruction map based on fossils)
Margins / sauropods Dinosaurs and footprints (reconstruction based on fossils)

Designer: Yasuko Yamada | 山田 泰子

Release date: June 15, 2022


Otters – Sea creature 
6th in series

Japan 2022 Sea Creatures cancel two Japan 2022 Sea Creatures cancel one 

Sea creature series 6th in series OTTERS

10 stamps on souvenir sheet, 2 cancels

Sea otters

Designer: Rika Hoshiyama | 星山 理佳

Release date: June 22, 2022


July

Toy Story

Toystory Japan 2022 cancel showing Woody Toystory Japan 2022 cancel showing buzz 

Toystory Japan 2022 stamp sheet Toystory Japan 2022 stamp sheet

2 sheets of 10 stamps, 2 cancels
6 colour offset

Designer:  Ayumi Yoshikawa | 吉川 亜有美 with Walt Disney Japan Co., Ltd.

Release date: July 13, 2022


Fumi Day

Fumi Day cancel 2 Fumi Day cancel 

Fumi Day sheet 

2 stamps on a sheet of 10, 2 cancels

Designer: Yasuko Yamada | 山田 泰子

Release date: July 22, 2022


100th Anniversary of the Boy Scouts Japan League

Japan 2022 Boyscouts cancel 1 Boyscouts Japan 2022 cancel two 

boyscouts Japan 2022

5 stamps on a sheet of 10, 2 cancels

  • Scout hat
  • Scout
  • Tent
  • Mess tin and curry
  • Fire

Designer: Akira Tamaki | 玉木 明

Release date: July 27, 2022


August

World of Art Series
4th in series

Japan 2022 World of Art series 4 cancel one Japan 2022 World of Art series 4 canceltwo 

 Japan 2022 World of Art 2 series 4

Japan 2022 World of Art series 4

20 stamps on 2 sheets of 10, 2 cancels

Images on the sheets: *corrected order

(1) “Color picture peony Bunpei bowl Kutani” 
(2) Hamamatsu map Hamazushi folding screen Byoubu
(3) “) “Kaiki” Yu Ogura Ogura Yu bowl
(4) “Sunflower” Suzuki Kiitsu
(5) “Ryutora Folding Screen” (left ship part) Masakuni Hashimoto
(6) Tiger figure from folding screen titled Dragon and tiger (竜虎図) – Hashimoto Gahō 
(7) Sakai fishing Shi “(part) Katsushika Hokusai
(8) “Morning” Claude Monet
(9) Portrait of Eugenia” Gustav Klimt
(10) “Sunflowers” Vincent van Gogh

Second sheet:

coming soon

Designer: Yuji Kusuda | 楠田 祐士

Release date: August 3, 2022


Amami Oshima, Tokunoshima, Northern Okinawa Island and Iriomote Island
Series: World Heritage #14

World Heritage Series Japan 2022 turtle World Heritage Series Japan 2022 cat cancel 

World Heritage Series Japan 2022

10 stamps, 2 cancels

Depicts animals native to each region. I got a bit carried away sourcing info on this series, but the set is so outstanding, it deserved as much info as I could supply. If you are lucky enough to get one of these on a cover, can you drop a photo below? I’d love to see the cat especially with the cat cancel.  

  • Amami rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi) アマミノクロウサギ – native to south Japanese islands  Amami Oshima and Tokunoshima. Endangered due to habit loss and predators. It’s refered to as a “living fossil”. It is a direct descendent of an extinct species from the Asian mainland. 
  • Crested serpent eagle (Spilornis cheela) カンムリワシ – Called Kanmuri-Washi  in Japan. Although found throughout southeast Asia, a subspecies of this bird is native to Ishigaki and Iriomote Islands. This link opens an excellent pdf research sheet on the Kanmuri-Washi <834A83938380838A838F83562E707562> (bird-research.jp) 
  • Yanbarutena (Yamahara Tenaga Golden, Cheirotonus jambar) ヤンバルテナガコガネ – found in north regions of Okinawa Island. Considered endangered largely due to deforestation, human encroachment on it’s territory and poaching. It was listed as threatened in 2015 Cheirotonus jambar ) | Okinawa Nature Photography and Cheirotonus jambar (Yanbaru Long-armed Scarab Beetle) (iucnredlist.org)
  • Amami Violet (Amami Sumire) ヤンバルテナガコガネ – small violet that grows among the rocks on Amami Oshima. Also called the “phantom flowers”. Currently under threat of extinction due to habitat destruction, and theft for the illegal exotic plant trade. Interesting short article can be found here Kagoshima) Phantom “Amami Mire” Quietly Blossoming Amami Oshima: Asahi Shimbun Digital in Japanese. 
  • Lidth’s jay (Garrulus lidthi) ルリカケス – native to Amami Oshima and Tokunoshima. This page is in Japanese and translates fairly well Forest Organisms Database 00183 Rurijaquez (affrc.go.jp). It was listed in the Red Data List as an endangered species due to human encroachment and predators introduced to the island (wild cats and mongoose). The government took steps in 2008 to halt predation on their territory and remove artifically introduced predators from the islands. Since then, there has been a gradual increase in mating pairs. As a result it was removed from the Endangered Species list and upgraded to rare wild animal and plant species.
  • Okinawa rail (Hypotaenidia okinawae) ヤンバルクイナ – this small flightless bird can be found in the northern districts of Okinawa. Considered Japan’s most endangered bird. This page has a beautifully detailed history of the bird Okinawa Rail -declining | Yamashina Institute for Ornithology. Lots of detail for the bird fan.
  • Chinese Box Turtle (Cistoclemmys flavomarginata evelynae) ヤエヤマセマルハコガメ- also called Yaeyama Semaru Turtle. Endemic to the Ishigaki and Iriomote Islands. An endangered species because of poaching and human encroachment. Yaeyama Semaru Turtle -National Institute for Environmental Studies Database of Invasive Organisms- (nies.go.jp)
  • Amami Ishikawa frog (Odorrana splendida) アマミイシカワガエル – endangered due to predation by invasive species, forest fragmentation and poaching by collectors of exotic animals.  Found excusively on Amami Island. This Canadian website has a good description of the Amami frog Amami Oshima Frog (Odorrana splendida) · iNaturalist Canada
  • Iriomote cat (Prionailurus bengalensis iriomotensis)イリオモテヤマネコ – found only in the tiny Iriomote island. They were placed on Japan’s Red List of Endangered species in 2002. Endangered due to a dwindling genetic pool, human encroachment, forest fragmentation, motor car collisions, feral domestic cats and hunting.  Iriomote Cat – International Society for Endangered Cats (ISEC) Canada (wildcatconservation.org)
  • Obito lizard gecko (Goniurosaurus splendens) オビトカゲモドキ – small lizard endemic to Tokunoshima. Endangered because of loss of habitat and their demand on the illegal animal trade world. Poaching has become a major threat to their existence. Also called the Banded ground gecko, it is Japan’s smallest native lizard. Obito Lily Gemodoki – Web Ryōhō Picture Book (herpetology.raindrop.jp)

Further reading:
Amami-Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, Northern part of Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island – UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Amami Oshima | Japan Nature Guides

Designer: Star Hill Rijia | 星山 理佳 (I’m not sure the name translates correctly. Apologies if it is incorrect.)

Release date: August 10, 2022


Jomon Archaeological Sites in Hokkaido and Northern Tohoku
Series: World Heritage #15

World Heritage Series Jomon Archaeological Sites in Hokkaido and Northern Tohoku cancel one World Heritage Series Jomon Archaeological Sites in Hokkaido and Northern Tohoku cancel two 

 Jomon Archaeological Sites in Hokkaido and Northern Tohoku Series: World Heritage #15

10 stamps on sheet, 2 cancels

First column on the far left:

  • Shakoki dog figurine
  • Lacquered spout pottery
  • Deep bowl with a stand with decorative protrusions

Second column in the middle:

  • Oki Daigi Ceremony pottery
  • Triangular rock slab
  • Dogu

Third column on the far right:

  • Kazuno comb – for my Japanese readers, this one was listed as 鹿角製 櫛  with this in small print over the description ろっかくせい
    くし. I think I translated this correctly. If not, I appreciate any corrections. See the first image, top far right row.
  • Obsidian stone spear and stone spoon
  •  Jade pearls
  • Ritual spoon

The Jomon Archaeological Sites are UNESCO World Heritage sites (as of 2021) 

The property consists of 17 archaeological sites in the southern part of Hokkaido Island and northern Tohoku in geographical settings ranging from mountains and hills to plains and lowlands, from inland bays to lakes, and rivers. They bear a unique testimony to the development over some 10,000 years of the pre-agricultural yet sedentary Jomon culture and its complex spiritual belief system and rituals. It attests to the emergence, development, maturity and adaptability to environmental changes of a sedentary hunter-fisher-gatherer society which developed from about 13,000 BCE.  Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan – UNESCO World Heritage Centre

Jomon Culture and the Archaeological Sites in Hokkaido and Northern Tohoku | AKARENGA (akarenga-h.jp)

Designer: Star Hill Rijia | 星山 理佳 (I’m not sure the name translates correctly. Apologies if it is incorrect.)

Release date: August 17, 2022


Autumn Greetings

Autumn designs cancel two Autumn designs cancel one 

Autumn designs 2Autumndesigns

2 sheets of 10 stamps, 2 cancels

Sheet one:

(1) Ginkgo
(2) Oysters
(3) Dahlia
(4) Cosmos
(5) Kiku

Sheet two:

(1) Acer palmatum
(2) Quercus serrata acorn
(3) Yama grape
(4) Winter cosmos
(5) Marigold

I painted autumn flowers and trees with autumnal shades and gentle touches.
It is a design that you can enjoy the feeling of season. 
山田 泰子 

Artist/designer: Yasuko Yamada | 山田 泰子

Release date: August 24, 2022


September

77th National Sports Festival (Tochigi Prefecture)

77th National Sports Festival cancel

77th National Sports Festival cancel

10 stamps on a sheet, cancel

Column one: 

  • Hockey
  • Equestrian
  • Swimming / diving
  • Softball
  • Sport climbing

Column two: 

  • Oku-Nikko
  • Mt. Chausu
  • Utsunomiya dumplings Ⓡ
  • Ashikaga Flower Park
  • Along the Moka Railway

Sheet margin:

  • Strawberry Ichikai Tochigi National Athletic Meet / Tochigi Tournament
    Mascot Tochimaru-kun

Along with the sports images, the stamps include” Oku Nikko, Utsunomiya dumplings ®, which are representative gourmets of Utsunomiya, and illustrations are made along the Mooka Railway Line”. The 77th National Sports Festival (Tochigi Prefecture) | Japan Post Corporation

Designer: Junko Kaibuchi | 貝淵 純子

Release date: September 1, 2022


Posukuma and his Friends

Posukuma and his friends sheet one Posukuma and his friends sheet two

2 sheets of 10 stamps

Memories & Dreams

Designer: Hitomi Nakamaru |  中丸 ひとみ

Release date: September 14, 2022


Posukuma Ota Gift Set

Posukuma Ota Set pack Posukuma Ota Set back fabric design 

 Posukuma Ota Set stamps

Posukuma Ota Set stickers

3 stamps

Done in collaboration with Mina Perhonen textiles

Release date: September 21, 2022


150 Years of Railways

150 years of railroads

10 stamps on sheet

  • Locomotive No. 1
  • Tokyo Subway 1000 series car
  • C62 class steam locomotive
  • Odakyu Electric Railway Type 3000 Train (Romancecar/SE)
  • Series 101 train
  • Series 151 train
  • Kiha 58 series diesel train
  • ED75 type electric locomotive and KOKI 5500 type wagon
  • Series 0 Shinkansen train
  • Sleeper limited express “Hokutosei”
  • Background: A true view of the Tokyo Shinagawa seaside steam train railway

Designer: Satoshi Maruyama | 丸山 智 

Release date: September 21, 2022


50th Anniversary of the Normalization of Diplomatic Relations between Japan and China

50th Anniversary of the Normalization of Diplomatic Relations between Japan and China

2 stamps on sheet of 10

Designer: Akira Tamaki | 玉木 明

Release date: September 29, 2022


October

100th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Mediation System

mediation Japan 2022

5 stamps on a sheet of 10

  • Resolution through pollution mediation
  • Resolution by special mediation
  • Settlement through domestic relations mediation
  • Resolution through residential land and building arbitration
  • Resolution through traffic mediation

Designer: 吉川 亜有美 Ayumi Yoshikawa

Release date: October 3, 2022


International Correspondence Week

correspondance week cancel one correspondance week cancel two 

correspondance week 2 Correspondance week 

4 stamps on sheets of 10, 2 cancels

first two sheets:
Yellow Bird Changchun by Katsushika Hokusai – original art held by Tokyo National Museum | 葛飾北斎の「黄鳥 長春」(東京国立博物館蔵) 
Yellow Bird and Roses Cultural Heritage Online (nii.ac.jp)

Second two sheets:
Thirty-Six Views of Tomitake – original art held by Tokyo National Museum | 「冨嶽三十六景」(東京国立博物館蔵)
Special Exhibition “Challenge to the Thirty-Six Views of Tomitake: Hokusai and Hiroshige” – Edo-Tokyo Museum (edo-tokyo-museum.or.jp)

Designer: Akira Tamaki | 玉木 明

Release date: October 7, 2022


150th Anniversary of the Founding of the Tokyo National Museum
3rd in National Treasures Series

150th Anniversary of the Founding of the Tokyo National Museum cancel 150th Anniversary of the Founding of the Tokyo National Museum cancel 2 

 150th Anniversary of the Founding of the Tokyo National Museum

150th Anniversary of the Founding of the Tokyo National Museum 2

20 stamps on 2 sheets, 2 cancels

TOKYO NATIONAL MUSEUM – (tnm.jp)

Tokyo National Museum (TNM) is the oldest institution of its kind in Japan. Its origin goes back to 1872, when a national exposition was held at the Yushima Confucian Shrine in Tokyo.
A special 150th anniversary website has been setup 150TH ANNIVERSARY – TOKYO NATIONAL MUSEUM (tnm.jp)

If you happen to be lucky enough to visit the museum, there is a special anniversary post box you can send your post cards from. Installation of 150th anniversary memorial post box | 150TH ANNIVERSARY – TOKYO NATIONAL MUSEUM (tnm.jp)

Sheet one:
(1) Haniwa: armored warriors
(2) Sea mirror
(3) Katawaguruma mother-of-pearl box
(4) Lapislazuli urn
(5) Dragon neck water bottle
(6) Autumn/Winter Landscape Map (Autumn Map)
(7) Cypress folding screen (right screen part) 1
(8) Cypress folding screen (right screen part) 2
(9) Red and white rose 1
(10) Red and white rose 2

Sheet two:
(1) 16 Arhats (9th Venerable)
(2) Statue of Kokuzo Bodhisattva
(3) Snow scenery 1
(4) Deyama Buddha
(5) Snow scenery 2
(6) Izumi Takami Stone Statue
(7) Statue of Peacock Myoo
(8) Rakuchū rakugai-zu folding screen (Funaki version) (right screen part) 1
(9) Rakuchū rakugai-zu folding screen (Funaki version) (right screen part) 2
(10) Heiji Monogatari Illustrated Scroll, Rokuhara Parade Scroll (Part)

Designer: Satoshi Maruyama | 丸山 智 

Release date: October 12, 2022


Hospitality Flowers Vol.19

Japan 2022 hospitality flowers cancel two Japan 2022 hospitality flowers cancel one 

Japan 2022 hospitality flowers   Japan 2022 hospitality flowers

10 stamps on two sheets

Stamps on sheet one:

  • Ume 
  •  Narcissus
  • Senryo
  • Tulips, pansies
  • Rose

Stamps on sheet two:

  • Christmas Rose
  • Asebi
  • Rose
  • Rosemary
  • Habotan

 

Designer: 中丸 ひとみ | Hitomi Nakamaru

Release date: October 26, 2022


November

Reiwa New Year – Lunar New Year – Year of the Rabbit 卯

Japan Year of rabbit 2022 Japan Year of rabbit 2022 cancel 

Japan Year of rabbit 2022  Japan Year of rabbit 2022   

Japan Year of rabbit 2022  Japan Year of rabbit 2022   

4 stamps, 2 cancels

Paper mache rabbits

Japan Post continues their New Year series with more illustrations by Kawasaki Kyosen 川崎巨泉 (1877~1942), You can read more about Kyosen here 2022 Year of the Tiger – GROWL! | Bitter Grounds Magazine. Ayumi Yoshikawa returns to create the new Lunar New Year set. 

Artist: Kawasaki Kyosen 川崎巨泉 (1877-1942) drawings of children’s toys 
Designer: Ayumi Yoshikawa 吉川 亜有美

Release date: November 1, 2022


Winter Greetings – Snow Globes & Snow Scenes

Snowman cancel JapanSnowglobes Japan 2022

Yuji Kusuda | 楠田 祐士 Yuji Kusuda | 楠田 祐士 

10 stamps on 2 sheets, 2 cancels

 

Designer: Yuji Kusuda | 楠田 祐士 

Release date: November 16, 2022


150th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Customs Office

Customs office Japan cancel one Customs office Japan cancel two 150th anniversary of the establishment of the customs office

2 stamps, 2 cancels

Designer: Junko Kaibuchi | 貝淵 純子

Release date: November 28, 2022


December

World of Picture Books
Volume 6 in the series

World of Picture Books Volume 6 in the series cancel two World of Picture Books Volume 6 in the series cancel one World of Picture Books Volume 6 in the series 

10 stamps on sheet, 2 cancels

Using illustrations from the Bear’s School series by Nami Adachi and Hiroyuki Aihara | 第6集は、絵・あだち なみ、文・あいはら ひろゆき『くまのがっこう』シリーズを取り上げています

Artist/designer: Yasuko Yamada | 山田 泰子

Release date: December 6, 2022


Delicious Nippon
4th in series

Delicious Nippon 4th in series cancel Delicious Nippon 4th in series cancel two  

Delicious Nippon 4th in series sheet one   

Delicious Nippon 4th in series sheet two

20 stamps on 2 sheets, 2 cancels

Sheet one:

  • Jibuni
  • Eggplant Somen
  • vegetable ramen
  • hunton rice
  • Kanazawa Curry
  • Turnip sushi, food boiled down in soy (gori, walnut),
  • sticky
  • Kanazawa Oden
  • crab face
  • sweet shrimp
  • Bamboo sushi

Sheet two:

  • Kinkato
  • Kaga stick tea and rakugan, chrysanthemum crackers
  • five-colored sweets
  • matcha green tea and fresh sweets
  • Kintsuba and Kaga Hachiman Kijo monaka
  • Fan rice cracker
  • Choseiden/Shibabune
  • beaver biscuits ビーバー・ビスケット
  • brain bread 頭脳パン
  • Fuku mirin and jiro candy

And now I need to go get some noodles! 

Designer: Ayumi Yoshikawa |  切手デザイン 吉川亜有美

Release date: December 14, 2022


See Japan’s 2021 stamp program Japan’s 2021 stamp program – mind-blowing cancels | Bitter Grounds Magazine

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7 Comments

  1. What’s the best way to order new issues from Japan for someone who doesn’t read Japanese?

    Reply
    • Hey Barry,
      I think the easiest way is to install a browser plugin like Google Translate Tool. It does a pretty good job of translating so I at least know what I’m looking at. The online store doesn’t have an English function, so, that’s your best bet. It really isn’t the greatest method, but at workable. Wish I could offer a better option.

      Reply
  2. How can a collector in the US buy new issues from Japan at face value? Thanks

    Reply
    • I’ve been stumped about this. Japan Post doesn’t seem to ship outside of Japan. I think I’ll reach out to Japan Post and see if they have anything available to foreign buyers. If I get an answer, I’ll pop it in here.

      Reply
    • I’ve been stumped by this as well. As far as I’ve been able to tell, Japan Post doesn’t ship overseas. I think I’ll try and contact someone there and see if they have a program. If I get an answer, I’ll pop it in here.

      Reply
  3. Hello, beautiful stamps, but how or where can I buy them? I collect used stamps, thanks

    Reply
    • I’m not sure where the best place is. I’m reaching out to Japan Post to see if they have a branch that ships outside Japan, and will post it here when I hear.

      Reply

Yes, I do read all the comments!

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