There are currently 27 kinds of regular postage stamps sold in Japan. Rare postage stamps called special stamps are also sold. Stamp collectors aren’t the only ones interested in this kind of stamp; anyone is glad to receive mail with a special stamp on it. Every year a dozen or so new designs for special stamps are planned and issued. Special stamp series feature a wide variety of everyday themes such as nature, landscapes, flowers, and animals. Some commemorate diplomatic relations between Japan and other countries. The greetings stamps for seasonal and special occasions are issued every year and are very popular. Popular anime characters are also featured on special stamps, which perhaps is unique to Japan.
Here are a few of the 29 varieties of special stamps issued last year.
First, the Heartwarming Animal series.
This is the first series of these special stamps sold last year. The stamps depict baby animals with cute expressions and mother animals with their babies. These stamps were issued to commemorate Be Kind to Animals Week (September 20-26). Some of the stamps are uniquely shaped in the contour of the animal, so they don’t look like a stamp at first glance. These stamps are sure to warm the heart of anyone receiving a letter with one on the envelope.
Popular seasonal greetings stamps are used on postcards and letters sent as seasonal greetings and also invitations to seasonal events to enhance the seasonal effect. This winter, a series of stamps in a snowman motif were issued that were perfect for sending Christmas cards. The spring greetings stamps feature cherry blossom designs. In Japan, the school year begins in April. A lot of people might use these stamps on congratulatory letters in connection with spring events such as school graduations.
The Japanese anime hero/heroine series stamps are very popular. This series was started in 2005. So far there have been more than 20 different sheets issued. The series attracts not only kids who love anime, but also adults who feel nostalgic about the anime they enjoyed in their youth.
Special stamps are sold singly and in sheets in all post offices in the country. When you come to Japan, be sure and drop in at a post office. How about buying a special stamp you like as a souvenir of your trip to Japan?
(The photos are taken from the JAPAN POST Web site at http://www.post.japanpost.jp/)