Japanese Matsuri Stamps
Japanese Matsuri stamps (祭: ma-tsu-ri) or hometown festivals stamps are part of the Japan furusato stamps family.
Japanese Matsuri Stamps - Akita Prefecture Saodoro Matsuri
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June 18, 1997 Price (single stamp) US$: 9.20 (free worldwide shipping) |
Japanese Matsuri Stamps - Akita Oomagari Hanabi
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July 2, 1970 Price (single stamp) US$: 9.10 (free worldwide shipping) |
Japanese Matsuri Stamps - Noto Abare Kiriko Festival
The Noto Abare Kiriko festival is featured on this Japanese matsuri stamp. Also referred to as the 'Fire and Violence' festival, it boasts illuminated lantern kiriko floats and portable mikoshi shrines being carried through the streets.
Visitors are treated to delicious festival foods and listen to Taiko drum beats while the locals wear the traditional summer festival yukata wear.
The kirikos and mikoshis are blessed by priests and sake is poured over them and into the mouths of the men who carry them.
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The festival is held on the first Friday through Saturday of July every year and is dedicated to the Yasaka shrine in Ushitsu. The festival originated around 1665 aimed at counteracting violent raging in Noto, Ishikawa prefecture. The purpose of this festival is to hustle and behave 'violently' to please the deity of destruction. The Japanese festival stamp to the left shows illuminated kiriko floats being carried. This Japanese matsuri stamp was issued in 1999. Price (single stamp): US$ 8.70 Free worldwide shipping |
Japanese Matsuri Stamps - Nagoya Festival
The next Japanese festival stamps take us to the city of Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture.
There are many festivals held in and around Nagoya. Major events include the Atsuta Festival in June, the Port Festival in July, the Nagoya Castle Summer Festival in August, and the Nagoya Festival at Hisaya Odori Park in October.
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The Japanese stamps to the left depict scenes from the Nagoya Festival. It is held in mid-October in the central Hisaya Odori Park in Sakae. The highlight of the festival is the procession od the three heroes of Nagoya: Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu. The characters come along with their soldiers clad in armor and carrying weapons and banners. The parade normally has over 700 people stretching over 1.5km in length and is accompanied by a band.. These Japanese matsuri stamps were issued in 1996. Price (double stamp): US$ 12.80 Free worldwide shipping |
Japanese Matsuri Stamps - Obara Festival Kagoshima
Our next stamp takes us to southern Kyushu island to the city of Kagoshima. The Ohara Festival is the biggest fall matsuri in southern Kyushu.
The main festival site is at Tenmonkan, which is at the center of Kagoshima City.
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Approximately 22,000 people in colorful yukata dance and march to traditional dance music. Anyone can participate in the dances at anytime. The Japanese stamp to the left shows festival participants dressed in the traditional yukata playing music and dancing. This Japanese stamp was issued in 1993. Price (single stamp): US$ 9.90 Free worldwide shipping |
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