List of people on the postage stamps of Japan

The Japanese Empire issued its first postage stamps in April 1871. In 1896 the first persons to be depicted on a stamp were Prince Kitashirakawa Yoshihisa (1847–1895) and Prince Arisugawa Taruhito (1835–1895) in honor of their role in the First Sino-Japanese War that ended one year earlier. The first woman and third person depicted on a Japanese postage stamp was in 1908 and 1914 Empress Jingū, a legendary Japanese empress who ruled following her husband's death in 200 AD.[1] She was in 1881 already the first woman depicted on a Japanese bank note. However no actual picture of her exists. Instead an artistical representation by Edoardo Chiossone was used for the bank note, modelled after a female employee of the Government Printing Bureau which lead to a western appearance.[2][3] For the postage stamps of 1908 and 1914 the same image was used. However the printing plates were destroyed in the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake and a revised design by Yoshida Toyo was used for stamps issued in 1924 with a more Asian appearance.[4][5] A definitive series in 1942 reflected Japan's entry into World War II, with designs including war workers and saluting aviators.

Saluting aviator on 15 sen stamp from 1942

After World War II the first person depicted on a stamp was in 1946 as part of a definitive series Baron Maejima Hisoka (1835–1919), the founder of the Japanese postal service. From 1949 to 1952 a series of eighteen "Personalities of the Cultural History" was issued.[6][7] In 2006 a series of 20 stamps of Japanese movies was issued depicting famous movie characters.[8][9]

List

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This following table lists people who have been featured on Japanese postage stamps before 2007 in alphabetic order of their last name. The list can also be sorted by year.

Name Year Profession / Notability Stamp(s)
Akihito (*1933) 1959 125th Emperor of Japan, reigning from 1989 to 2019.
The stamps were issued on April 10, the day of his marriage with Michiko Shōda.
  
Akutagawa Ryunosuke (1892 – 1927) 1999 Writer; Japan's premier literary award, the Akutagawa Prize, is named after him
Ando Hiroshige (1797 – 1858) 1997 Painter (ukiyo-e artist)
Arashi Kanjūrō (1903 – 1980) 2000 Actor
Arisugawa Taruhito (1835 – 1895) 1896 Royal Family; career officer in the Imperial Japanese Army   
Atsumi Kiyoshi (1928 – 1996) 2000 Actor famous for his character in the series Otoko wa Tsurai yo
2006
Bandō Tsumasaburō (1901 – 1953) 1999 Actor
Beethoven, Ludwig van (1770 – 1827) 2005 German composer
Buchanan, James (1791 – 1868) 1960 American President
Chishū Ryū (1904 – 1993) 2006 Actor appearing in over 160 films and about 70 television productions
Clark, William S. (1826 – 1886) 2001 Professor
Chiossone, Edoardo (1833 – 1898) 1994 Italian engraver and painter who designed the first Japanese bank notes
Daidouzan 1979 Sumo Wrestler
Doi Takao (*1954) 2000 Astronaut, engineer and veteran of two NASA Space Shuttle missions
Enomoto Kenichi (1904 – 1970) 2000 Actor, singing comedian known by his stage name Enoken
Fujiwara Yoshie (1898 – 1976) 1998 Opera singer who established the Fujiwara Opera
Fujiwara no Kamatari (614 – 669) 1939[A 1] Founder of the Fujiwara clan  
1945
Fujiwara no Teika (1162 – 1241) 2005 Waka poet
Fukada Kyūya (1903 – 1971) 2003 Mountaineer and writer
Fukuzawa Yukichi (1835 – 1901) 1950 Teacher, translator, entrepreneur and political theorist;
founder of Keio University, a newspaper and the Institute for Study of Infectious Diseases;
He also appears on the 10,000 yen bank note
1958
Furuhashi Hironoshin (1928 – 2009) 2000 Swimmer
Futabayama Sadaji (1912 – 1968) 2000 Sumo Wrestler
Gotokudaiji no Sadaijin 2006
Hamada Mitsuo 2006 Actor
Hanawa Hokinoichi (1746 – 1821) 1996 Japanologist
Hanaoka Seishū (1760 – 1835) 2000 Physician
2004
Hara Setsuko (1920 – 2015) 2006 Actress
Hayami Gyoshu (1894 – 1935) 1994 Painter
Hayashi Fumiko (1903 – 1951) 2000 Novelist
Higuchi Ichiyō (1872 – 1896) 1951 Author; Higuchi Ichiyō was the pen name of Natsu Higuchi, also known as Natsuko Higuchi.
Specializing in short stories, she was one of the first important writers to appear in the Meiji period.
 
1981
Hiraga Gennai (1729 – 1780) 2004 Inventor
Hirata Mitsuru 2006 Actor
Hishida Shunsō (1874 – 1911) 1951 Painter from the Meiji period. Hishida Shunsō was the pseudonym of Hishida Miyoji.
He played a role in the Meiji era innovation of Nihonga ("Japanese-style paintings").
 
Hitomi Kinue (1907 – 1931) 2000 Athlete; Japanese track and field athlete and first Japanese woman to win an Olympic medal
Hornfischer, Kurt (1910 – 1958) 1952 German heavyweight wrestler
Hozumi Nobushige (1855 – 1926) 1999 Statesman, legal expert
Ichikawa Danjūrō IX (1838 – 1903) 1950 Kabuki actor, one of the most successful and famous of the Meiji period  
Ichikawa Danjūrō XI 1991 Kabuki actor
Ichikawa Ebizo (1741 – 1806) 1956 Kabuki actor
2000
Ichikawa Komazo III 1988 Kabuki actor
Ichikawa Raizo (1931 – 1969) 2006 Actor
Ii Naosuke (1815 – 1860) 1958 Daimyō of Hikone (1850–1860) and Tairō of the Tokugawa shogunate  
Ino Tadataka (1745 – 1818) 1995 Surveyor, cartographer  
Iseno Taifu 2006
Ishihara Yujiro (1934 – 1987) 1997 Actor, singer
Ishikawa Goemon (1558 – 1594) 1992 Ninja warrior
Iwai Hanshiro 1984
Iwai Kumejiro 1988
Iwamigata 1979
Iwasaki Yataro (1835 – 1885) 1986 Founder of Mitsubishi Company Group
Izumo no Okuni (ca. 1578 – 1613) 1989 Founder of Kabuki
2003
Jingū 1908 Empress  
1914
1924
Jinmaku (1829 – 1903) 1978
Jitukawa Nobuwaka II 1992
Kamiya Jihee 1991
Kanaguri Shizo (1891 – 1983) 1999 Marathon runner
Kaneko Misuzu (1903 – 1930) 2003 Poet
Kanō Hōgai (1828 – 1888) 1951 Painter of the Kanō school  
Kataoka Nizaemon XIII 1992
Katsushika Hokusai (ca. 1760 – 1849) 1999 Painter
Katsura Beicho III 1999 Rakugo Teller
Katsura Bunraku VIII 1999 Rakugo Teller
Kawabata Yasunari (1899 – 1972) 1999 Writer
2000
Kawakami Otojiro (1864 – 1911) 1999 Actor
Kawakami Sadayakko (1871 – 1946) 1999 Actress, Business woman
Kazama Morio (*1949) 2006 Actor
Keller, Helen (1880 – 1968) 2000 Deafblind American author
Kimura Hisashi (1870 – 1943) 1952 Astronomer
Ki no Tsurayuki (872 – 945) 1993 Author
Kishi Keiko (*1932) 2000 Actress
2006
Kitano Takeshi (*1947) 2006 Film director, comedian
Kitashirakawa Yoshihisa (1847 – 1895) 1896 Prince
Kitasato Shibasaburō (1853 – 1931) 2003 Physician and bacteriologist
Kobayashi Akira (*1938) 2006 Actor, singer
Kobayashi Takiji (1903 – 1933) 2000 Author
Kōda Rohan (1867 – 1947) 1997 Author
Koga Masao (1904 – 1978) 2004 Composer
Kokontei Shincho V 1999 Rakugo Teller
Komura Jutaro (1855 – 1911) 1999 Statesman, diplomat
Kondo Makoto 1986 Educator
Koizumi Yakumo (1850 – 1904) 2004 Author
Kumagai Naozane (1141 – 1208) 1992 Bushi
Kume Danjo 1991
Kunisada Chuji (1810 – 1851) 1999
Kuroki Hitomi (*1960) 2006 Actress
Kurosawa Akira (1910 – 1998) 2000 Film Director
Kyō Machiko (1924 – 2019) 2006 Actress
Maejima Hisoka (1835 – 1919) 1927 Statesman, politician, businessman, founder of the Japanese postal service  
1946  
1946  
1947  
1951
1952  
1961
1968
1985
1994
Masako, Crown Princess of Japan (*1963) 1993 Princess
2000
Masaoka Shiki (1867 – 1902) 1951 Author, poet and literary critic in Meiji period Japan; Masaoka Shiki is the pen-name of Masaoka Noboru.
Shiki is considered of major importance in the development of modern haiku poetry.
2001
2002
Yūsaku Matsuda (1949 – 1989) 2006 Actor
Matsui Sumako (1886 – 1919) 1999 Actress
Matsumoto Koshiro VII (1870 – 1949) 1991 Kabuki actor
Matsuo Bashō (1644 – 1694) 1987 Poet
1989
2002
Matsuzaka Keiko (*1952) 2006 Actress
Michiko Shōda (*1934) 1959 Empress. The stamps were issued on April 10, the day of her marriage with Akihito   
Mifune Toshirō (1920 – 1997) 2000 Actor
2006
Minamoto no Yoritomo (1147 – 1199) 1968 First Shōgun of Kamakura Shogunate
1982
Mishima Yahiko 1999 Athlete
Misora Hibari (1937 – 1989) 1997 Singer
2000
Miyagi Michio (1894 – 1956) 1994 Composer, musician
Miyazawa Kenji (1896 – 1933) 1996 Author, poet
Miyazawa Rie (*1973) 2006 Actress
Mori Masayuki 2006 Actor
Mori Ōgai (1862 – 1922) 1951 Physician, translator, novelist, poet; The Wild Geese is considered his major work.
1990
Motoori Norinaga (1730 – 1801) 2001 Scholar of Kokugaku
Nagaoka Hantaro (1865 – 1950) 2000 Physicist
2003
Nagashima Shigeo (*1936) 2000 Baseball player
Nakamura Baigyoku III 1991 Kabuki actor
Nakamura Ganjiro II 1991 Kabuki actor
Nakamura Hakuo I 1992 Kabuki actor
Nakamura Kanzaburō XVII 1992 Kabuki actor
Nakamura Kichiemon I (1886 – 1954) 1992 Kabuki actor
Nakamura Teijo 2000 Poet
Nakamura Utaemon VI (1917 – 2001) 1991 Kabuki actor
Nakamura Kanzaburo XVII 1992 Kabuki actor
Nakatsuhime 1988
Nakaya Ukichiro 2000 Physicist
Naruhito, Crown Prince of Japan (*1960) 1993 Prince
2000
Naruse Jinzo 2000 Educator
Natsume Masako (1957 – 1985) 2006 Actress
Natsume Sōseki (1867 – 1916) 1950 Novelist who is best known for his novels Kokoro, Botchan, I Am a Cat and his unfinished work Light and Darkness.  
1999
Niijima Jo (1843 – 1890) 1950 Educator and Christian missionary of the Meiji era;
founder of Doshisha University and Doshisha Women's College of Liberal Arts; husband of Niijima Yae
 
Nishi Amane (1829 – 1897) 1952 Philosopher  
Nishida Kitaro (1870 – 1945) 1995 Philosopher
Nishina Yoshio (1890 – 1951) 1990 Physicist
Nitobe Inazo (1862 – 1933) 1952 Agricultural Economist, Author, Educator, Diplomat, Politician
Nogi Maresuke (1849 – 1912) 1937 General  
1938
1942
1944
1945  
Noguchi Hideyo (1876 – 1928) 1949 Doctor, bacteriologist
1999
Noguchi, Isamu (1904 – 1988) 2004 Japanese - American artist, landscape architect
Nukata no Ookimi 1981
Oda Mikio (1905 – 1998) 2000 Athlete
Oe Kenzaburo (*1935) 2000 Author
Ogiya Yugiri 1991
Oh Sadaharu (*1940) 2000 Baseball player
Okakura Tenshin (1862 – 1913) 1952 Scholar
Okochi Denjiro 2006 Actor
Onoe Baiko VII 1992 Kabuki actor
Onoe Bairyoku II 1992 Kabuki actor
Onoe Kikugoro VI 1991 Kabuki actor
Onoe Shoroku II (1913 – 1989) 1992 Kabuki actor
Ono no Komachi (ca. 825 – 900) 2005 Poet
Ono no Michikaze (894 – 966) 2000 Calligrapher
Ōshikōchi no Mitsune 2006 Heian administrator and waka poet of the Japanese court
Otani Oniji 1984 Kabuki actor
Ōtsuki Fumihiko (1847 – 1928) 2000 Lexicographer, Linguist, Historian
Ozaki Yukio (1858 – 1954) 1960 Politician
Ozawa Seiji (1935 – 2024) 2000 Conductor
Ozu Yasujiro (1903 – 1963) 2003 Film director
Palusalu, Kristjan (1908 – 1987) 1952 Estonian heavyweight wrestler
Raiden Tameemon (1767 – 1825) 1978 Sumo Wrestler
Rikidōzan (1924 – 1963) 2000 Wrestler
Russell, George 1949 Boy Scout
Saito Mokichi (1882 – 1953) 2003 Poet
Saito Musashibo Benkei (1155 – 1189) 1991 Warrior
Sakai Yoshinori (1945 – 2014) 1996 Athlete, who lit the Olympic Flame, 1964. Former Fuji Television Director
Sakamoto Ryōma (1836 – 1867) 2000 Leader of the movement to overthrow the Tokugawa bakufu
Sanada Hiroyuki (*1960) 2006 Actor
Sano Tsunetami (1822 – 1902) 1939 Statesman, Founder of the Japanese Red Cross Society  
Sanyutei Ensho VI 1999 Rakugo Teller
Sada Keiji (1926 – 1964) 2000 Actor
Sato Ichiei 1999 Poet
Sawamura Eiji (1917 – 1944) 2000 Baseball player
Seki Takakazu (ca. 1642 – 1708) 1992 Mathematician  
Shiba Ryotaro (1923 – 1996) 2000 Novelist
Shigemitsu Mamoru (1887 – 1957) 2000 Minister of Foreign Affairs
Shimamura Hogetsu 1999 Writer
Shimazaki Toson (1872 – 1943) 1993 Author
Shinmi Masaoki 1960 Ambassador
Shirase Nobu (1861 – 1964) 1960 Explorer
1999
Sho Deikun 1993
Shoriki Matsutaro (1885 – 1969) 1984 Owner of Yomiuri Media Group, Minister of Science Technology
Shotoku Taishi (574 – 622) 2000 Prince
Siebold, Philipp Franz von (1796 – 1866) 1996 German physician  
Sugihara Chiune (1900 – 1986) 2000 Diplomat
Soma Gyofu 1995 Poet
Suo no Naishi (– ca. 1110) 2006
Suzuki Umetaro (1874 – 1943) 1993 Scientist
Takamine Hideko (1924 – 2010) 2006 Actress
Takamura Kotaro (1833 – 1956) 2000 Poet and sculptor
Takehisa Yumeji (1884 – 1934) 1999 Painter
Takekuma (*1986) 1979 Sumo Wrestler
Takemoto Gidayu (1651 – 1714) 2001 Gidayu bushi Singer
Takizawa Bakin (1767 – 1848) 1998 Author
Tanaka Kinuyo (1909 – 1977) 2000 Actress
Tanakadate Aikitsu (1856 – 1952) 2002 Geophysicist
Terada Torahiko (1878-1935) 1952 Physicist, author
Tezuka Osamu (1928 – 1989) 1997 Manga artist, animator
Tōgō Heihachirō (1847-1934) 1937 Fleet Admiral  
1938
1942  
1944  
1945
Tomii Masaaki 1999 Jurist
Tomohiko Takeuchi 1984 Poet
Tsuboi Sakae (1899 – 1967) 2000 Novelist, poet
Tsuda Umeko (1864 – 1929) 2000 Educator
Tsuruta Kōji (1924 – 1987) 2006 Actor
Tsuruta Yoshiyuki (1903 – 1986) 2000 Swimmer
Tsubouchi Shoyo (1859-1935) 1950 Author, critic, playwright, translator and professor at Waseda University.  
Uchimura Kanzō (1861-1930) 1951 Author, Christian evangelist and the founder of the Nonchurch Movement of Christianity in the Meiji and Taishō period of Japan.
He is one of the most well-known Japanese pre-World War II pacifists.
 
Uehara Ken 2000 Actor
Uemura Shoen (1875 – 1949) 1999 Painter
Ume Kenjirō (1860-1910) 1952 Legal scholar  
1999
Watanabe Kazan (1793 – 1841) 1993 Painter
Yoshijirō Umezu (1882 – 1949) 2000 Chief commander of the Japanese army
Yakushimaru Hiroko (*1964) 2006 Actress, singer
Yakusho Kōji (*1956) 2006 Actor
Yamabe no Akahito 2006 Poet
Yamamoto Yuzo (1887 – 1974) 2000 Novelist, playwright
Yanagiya Kosan V 1999 Rakugo Teller
Yorozuya Kinnosuke (1932 – 1997) 2006 Actor
Yosano Akiko (1878 – 1942) 1992 Author, poet, social reformer
1999
Yoshida Shigeru (1878 – 1967) 1996 Prime Minister
Yoshida Shoin (1830 – 1859) 1959 Scholar
Yoshikawa Eiji (1892 – 1962) 2000 Novelist
Yoshinaga Sayuri (*1945) 2006 Actress
Yoshino Sakuzo (1878 – 1933) 1999 Author, political thinker
Yoshioka Yayoi (1871 – 1959) 2000 Physician, Women's rights activist
Yukawa Hideki (1907 – 1981) 1985 Theoretical physicist
2000

Notes

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  1. ^ As painting from Fujiwara no Takanobu (1142-1205)

Literature

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  • Michel catalogue Japan, Korea, Mongolei, Georgien, GUS in Asien 2020, Übersee Band 9.2, 42nd edition, ISBN 978-3-95402-310-3, p. 223–677 (German)

References

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  1. ^ Most valuable Japanese stamps
  2. ^ Bank of Japan: image of Empress Jingū on bank note (1883)
  3. ^ 続逓信事業史 (Continued - History of Communications Business) vol. 3 郵便 (mails), ed. 郵政省 (Ministry of Postal Services), Tokyo 1963
  4. ^ Going Postal: Empire Building through Miniature Messages on German and Japanese Stamps
  5. ^ colnect.com: Empress Jingū (1924)
  6. ^ Michel catalogue Japan, Korea, Mongolei, Georgien, GUS in Asien 2020, Übersee Band 9.2, 42nd edition, ISBN 978-3-95402-310-3, p. 247
  7. ^ colnect.com: Personalities of the Cultural History (1949-1952)
  8. ^ Michel catalogue Japan, Korea, Mongolei, Georgien, GUS in Asien 2020, Übersee Band 9.2, 42nd edition, ISBN 978-3-95402-310-3, p. 451
  9. ^ "Japan : Stamps [Series: Japanese Films (Masterpieces of the past)] [1/2]". colnect.com. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
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