Many early asian stamps evoke strong memories of historical events and circumstances and are valued highly. A large part of this page will be used to illustrate the beauty and attractiveness of Asian stamps. These are known as the Dragon Series with the design consisting of two dragons facing each other. In 1872, they were replaced by a chrysanthemum and paulowina design and were referred to as the Cherry Blossom Series , because cherry blossoms appeared in all four corners. After that came the Koban Series , the Crysanthemum Series , Tazawa Series and the Showa Series .
Commemorative stamps publicize important events memorable to the nation and people.
Just as Christmas cards are exchanged in many countries, it is a custom in Japan to exchange New Year cards. Postage stamps with special designs have been issued for New Year cards since 1935. Most of the designs involve traditional toys in the shape of the zodiac and are very popular in Japan. With the object of popularizing philately and obtaining wider recognition of the cultural value of postage stamps, Philately Week is held on a nationwide basis, and a postage stamp to mark the week has been issued every year. For the design, ukiyoe pictures have mainly been used, but in recent years , works by distinguished modern painters and pictures on folding screens have also been featured.