Exhibition at VMU Schowcases Japanese Postage Stamps

From May 24 until June 30, VMU Centre for Asian Studies invites everyone to the exhibition Prefectures, which showcases Japanese postage stamps from the collection by Leonas Veržbolauskas, at the 4th floor gallery in the VMU Centre for Research and Studies (V. Putvinskio g. 23).

Japan began issuing stamps for its prefectures, also known as furusato (ふるさと – hometown) stamps, in 1989. However, they are not truly regional stamps: they are issued by Japan Post and sold at the post offices not only in their respective prefectures but also all around the country. Prefecture stamps provide an excellent opportunity to experience the sights and scenes for which Japan’s prefectures are famous for.

One of the most popular themes is the combination of flowers and famous sites. In fact, flowers have been playing an important role in Japanese culture as many of the floral traditions can date back hundreds of years and are connected to certain events or activities. Good examples are hanami (cherry blossom viewing) and flower arrangement known as ikebana.

Recognizing a Japanese prefecture stamp is quite tricky if one does not speak the language. However, there are a few distinctive features which can help to identify it, for instance, the stamp’s inscription: “日本郵便” (Nippon/Nihon Yūbin – Japan Post). On prefecture stamps, this inscription uses a calligraphic-style font. However, around 2008, inscription style was unified, but the stamps made since then can be recognized by the prefecture name imprinted on the bottom.