Changes in Japanese Postage Stamps (3/9)

Large Imperial Chrysanthemum Crest takes Center

January 1, 1899

There were increasingly insistent calls for the government to change the design of the Small Coin stamp, which had been in use for many years. It was replaced by a stamp whose design featured a large imperial chrysanthemum crest in the middle. This new design reflected the views of government and society at the time.
The English words identifying the country of origin as seen on the small coin stamp were also removed.
These stamps are commonly called the 'Chrysanthemum stamps.' They were used until 1913.
Part of the design of the Chrysanthemum stamps showed a post town bell, which was the symbol of transport and communications in Japan.

First Stamp Booklet Issued

December 30, 1906

The stamp booklet was issued as a convenient way of carrying around stamps while traveling. The stamp booklet consisted of several of the most commonly used stamps placed inside a cover to form a booklet.
The character for 'booklet' printed on the front was originally the character meaning 'notebook.' However, this character was excluded from the list of official Current Characters which was drawn up after the Second World War and therefore precluded from use. It was replaced by the character for 'register.' From 1954 the booklet was simply marked 'Postage Stamps' and in 1987 the name was again changed to the nickname 'Yupen.'

First Design Featuring a Person

February 20, 1908

Increasingly, mail being sent overseas required high postal charges. In some cases enough stamps of existing denominations to represent the postal charge could not fit onto the package. Furthermore, a stamp of 1 yen or higher was requests for establishment of a telephone line. New stamps were therefore issued which became known as the 'large sum stamps.' These were the first ordinary stamps to feature a person (an image of Regent Jingu) in the design.
The Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 damaged the original plates that had been used up until then. The design was re-drawn and new plates were made.