Baseball Stamps & Postmarks: Japanese Postmarks

Japanese Postmarks

Japan Post has for many years provided distinctive postmarks as event souvenirs. These postmarks are traditionally 36 mm in size and stamped in red ink. They appear on cover as well as postcards. The postcard provided the minimum postage rate required to obtain the postmark

This is an example of the commemorative and standard postmarks for the 50th anniversary of the Intercity amateur baseball championship - 1979

The dates are listed as 54 (Showa era year) 7 (month) 27 (day)

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.:

Taisho 10-15 : 1921-1926

Showa 1-64 : 1926-1989

Heisei 1-31 : 1989-2019

Reiwa 1-12 : 2019-2030

Some of the more common uses are for baseball and softball related postmarks are for the National Athletic competitions of which baseball/softball is one of the events and the High School Championships

This list is not complete and will always be a work in progress:

National Athletic Meet