JAPAN

Before 1947, stamps were marked with the Imperial Chrysantemum Seal:
From 1947 stamps inscribed 'Nippon' and/or '日本郵便'.

1871 ->
p

From 1871: 1 Yen (JPY) = 100 Sen = 1000 Rin
Checklists > Countries > Japan Mythic Cats

List status: Incomplete / under construction
If you have corrections or addendae to this list, please send an e-mail to checklists@catstamps.org.

MYTHIC CATS

Item Code Item type Face value Remarks SC
1 October 1959 - 350th Anniversary of Nagoya
JP19591001 ST 10 Stamp 10 Mythic Dolphin with Tiger Head
MI 710
JP19591001 FDC 10 First Day Cover 10 Mythic Dolphin with Tiger Head (on stamp and cachet)
Official FDC with
JP19591001 ST 10
Japanese date: 34.10.1 *
1 July 1976 - Definitives
JP19760701 ST 250 Stamp 250 Komainu, Guardian Lion-Dog
Wild Cat Art
MI 1292
JP19760701 FDC 250 First Day Cover 250 Komainu, Guardian Lion-Dog
Wild Cat Art
Official FDC with
JP19760701 ST 250
1 October 1999 -> Hamamatsu Ebiduka Scenic Postmark
JP19991001_ PMK 4328033 Pictorial Postmark - Guardian Lion Dog (at the Kashima Shrine)
Permanent Pictorial Postmark used at
Hamamatsu Ebiduka PO
432-8033
First date in use:
1 October 1999 - ???
Japanese dates:
11.10.1 - ?.?.? *
If you know the last day of use for this postmark, please let us know.
1 October 1999 -> Nagoya Omaedu Scenic Postmark
JP19991001_ PMK 4600011 Pictorial Postmark - Mythic Dolphin with Tiger Head
Permanent Pictorial Postmark used at
Omaedu PO, Nagoya
460-0011
First date in use:
1 October 1999 - ???
Japanese dates:
11.10.1 - ?.?.? *
If you know the last day of use for this postmark, please let us know.
2002 -> Nagoya CPO Scenic Postmark
JP20020122_ PMK 4608799 Pictorial Postmark - Mythic Dolphin with Tiger Head
Permanent Pictorial Postmark used at
Nagoya CPO
460-8799
Earliest date we have seen:
22 January 2002
Latest date we have seen:
22 January 2002
Japanese dates:
14.1.22 - ?.?.? *
If you know the sates of use for this postmark, please let us know.
2 December 2002 -> Nagoya Chuo/Nagoya Ekimae Scenic Postmark
JP20021202_ PMK 4508799 Pictorial Postmark - Mythic Dolphin with Tiger Head
Permanent Pictorial Postmark used at
Chuo PO and Ekimae Branch PO, Nagoya
450-8799
First date in use:
2 Dec 2002 - ???
Japanese dates:
14.12.2 - ?.?.? *
If you know the last day of use for this postmark, please let us know
16 June 2003 - ASEAN-Japan Exchange Year
JP20030616 ST 80 8 Stamp 80 Merlion
Wild Cat Art
Merlion Statue, Singapore
MI 3546
JP20030616 MS 800 Miniature Sheet 800 Merlion (on one stamp)
Wild Cat Art
Merlion Statue, Singapore
Sheetlet with
JP20030616 ST 80 8
and the 9 other stamps in set
MI KB3539-3548
31 May 2004 -> Rupu Kanayama Scenic Postmark
JP20040531_ PMK 4600022 Pictorial Postmark - Mythic Dolphin with Tiger Head
Permanent Pictorial Postmark used at
Rupu Kanayama PO, Nagoya
460-0022
First date in use:
31 May 2004 - ???
Japanese dates:
16.5.31 - ?.?.? *
If you know the last day of use for this postmark, please let us know
19 November 2006 -> Nagoya Naka Scenic Postmark
JP20061119_ PMK 4600008 Pictorial Postmark - Mythic Dolphin with Tiger Head
Permanent Pictorial Postmark used at
Naka PO, Nagoya
460-0008
Earliest use we have seen:
19 Nov 2006
Latest use we have seen:
19 Nov 2006
Japanese dates:
18.11.19 - ?.?.? *
If you know the last day of use for this postmark, please let us know
29 November 2016 - 50th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations betweeen Japan and Singapore
JP20161129 ST 82 3 Stamp 82 Merlion
Wild Cat Art
Merlion Statue, Singapore
MI 8294
JP20161129 SH 820 Sheetlet 820
(10 x 82)
Merlion (on one stamp and selvedge)
Wild Cat Art
Merlion Statue, Singapore
MI 8294

There are 10 different versions of this postmark. Click here for a detailed list

JP20161129 FDP 1008994 1 First Day Postmark   Merlion
Wild Cat Art
Merlion Statue, Singapore
"日・シンガポール外交関係樹立50周年"
Machine postmark
Tokyo CPO
29 November 2016
Japanese date:
28.11.29 *

There are 127 different versions of this postmark. Click here for a detailed list

JP20161129 FDP 1008994 2 First Day Postmark   Merlion
Wild Cat Art
Merlion Statue, Singapore
"日・シンガポール外交関係樹立50周年"
Hand canceller
Tokyo CPO
29 November 2016
Japanese date:
28.11.29 *

Compiled by Geir Arveng with helpful information from Greg Balagian, T.S. Tan, Marci Jarvis, and Takao Kobayashi.
Latest update: 23 May, 2019

 

* A note on Japanese dates:
Japan follows the Gregorian callendar regarding days and months, years are, however, counted within the reign
of the current emperor. Domestic Japanese postmarks will thus not use Western years. International mail is mostly
postmarked with an international postmark showing a Western year and the city and country in Latin script - alone
or in addition to the domestic postmark. For catstamp collectors, the post-war reigns are of significance.
Emperor Hirohitho's reign, referred to as 'Shōwa' ("Brilliant Harmony") started in 1926 (year 1), and lasted until 7 January
1989 (year 64).
The reign of Emperor Akhito is referred to as 'Heisei' ("Achieving Peace") and started 8 January 1989 (year 1), and lasted
until 30 April 2019 (year 31).
The current reign of Emperor Naruhito is referred to as 'Reiwa' ("Beautiful Harmony") and started 1 May 2019.
2019 is thus year 31 until 30 April, and year 1 from 1 May.