Japanese Commemorative Postmarks

2017-Jul-17 Entertainment Square - Tezuka Osamu World - Shinjuku

2016-May-01 : 16 Makoto-chan - Commemorating the installation of the Makoto-chan post box at the Stamp Museum

2016-Nov-05 Makoto-chan - 20th Anniversary Stamp Museum - Toshima Post Office

2020-Mar-22 Opening Tokiwa-so Manga Museum - Toshima

In Japan, many post offices have a original pictorial postmark (36mm), which can be stamped on a mail, or in travel journals like an Eki stamp although they require postage. Many of these postmarks can be found on post cards as they carry the minimum required postage for mailing. Any mail that may be outgoing from Japan will also receive a smaller black postmark beside the pictorial postmark.

These postmarks usually focus on tourist attractions, local products, festivals or sporting events located near the post office. Similar to an Eki stamp these are collected as validation of a visit to the area. There have been several instances of these postmarks commemorating Japanese anime or Manga

Taisho 10-15 : 1921-1926

Showa 1-64 : 1926-1989

Heisei 1-31 : 1989-2019

Reiwa 1-12 : 2019-2030

In Japan, years are sometimes written in the Japanese era calendar, which is based on the reign of the Emperor, especially on documents issued by the bureaucratic offices. For instance, the Western year 1968 is 43rd year of Showa era (which started in 1926). The name of the era is changed when the Emperor on the throne is replaced by another due to the death of His Majesty or abdication.

Example of envelope with both red commemorative pictorial postmark and smaller black outgoing postmark.