Letter Writing Day In Japan

The Letter Writing Day can be a bit confusing...as I found on numerous sites that this 'holiday' falls on 7th of December, then again on the official World Letter Writing Day page the date is 1st of September, and Japan issues LWD stamps each year (for over two decades now) on 23rd of July. In any case, its a nice way of reminding people of the (still) existence of letters. I am hoping to pick it up again as well, just a few pen-pals to keep it going. As usual the Japan Post issue (from 2003) is very cute, plus a Hello Kitty postmark.

This is my latest post for the Sunday Stamps - via the link you can see more entries i.e. stamps for the letter 'L'. In case you want to see my 'L' postcard you can click my blog here.

Chinese Zodiac, Japan

My untrained eye didn't recognise at first glance just how much thought was put into this cover - and that it was indeed a chinese zodiac in question! With the years of rooster ('69), dog ('70), pig ('71) and 'my own' snake ('89), completed with cute eeyore from the winnie the pooh series (2013). Another great cover from tabisuruyuki, ありがとう xD

 

YOTH Japan

Always meticulous mail from Japan, the snowman stamp is just too cute! Thank you once again Ai :)

Animals Various

As we have a free choice for Sunday Stamps this week (and I have a limited range of stamps to show, but it would still be my choice!) here are some examples of my favourite theme - animals <3 These were sent to me for a special group in my 'home' RR by dear fellow postcrossers tinktink, ossuusso and newrule, I enjoy them very much, thank you!

The 1st one from Japan, showing pets - how awesome is the semi-shaped cat?!

The 2nd one from Estonia, a nice selection of native mammals.

The 3rd one from Malaysia, cool underwater creatures.

I hope there are more animal-lovers out there who will appreciate this..!

And now lets see what everyone else has in store for today...

                                                      

International Letter-Writing Week, Japan

Wow I was so close to not participating in today's task...I couldnt find anything on the theme hobbies, until I opened my old letters-box. And oh what a splendid coincidence - I've found a beautiful stamp celebrating the International Letter-Writing Week in Japan.

''International Letter-Writing Week was initiated in 1957 at the 14th Congress of Universal Postal Union (UPU), with the aim of contributing to the world peace by promoting cultural exchange through correspondence among people around the world. It was decided to observe this event during the week that includes October 9, the date of the UPU's establishment. International Letter-Writing Week was set in Japan for the week of October 6 to 12. MPT has been issuing stamps annually to commemorate this event since 1958.'' (Source: www.onlineworkshop.net)

The stamps usually show Japanese traditional paintings - in 2008 they depicted three of "Fifty-three stations of the Tokaido Road " by Utagawa Hirohsige (1797-1858), ukiyoe artist in the late Edo era.

I am a huge ukiyo-e fan, as of Japanese culture, so I am really happy to have found this! The picture itself doesnt show a hobby but celebrates one of the greatest hobbies there are. I used to be very active in writing letters as a kid, these days postcards take up most of my time xD

You can check the different takes on today's Viridian's Sunday Stamps challenging theme yourself ;)