The Japanese Empire issued its first postage stamps in April 1871. The first persons to be depicted on a stamp were Prince Kitashirakawa Yoshihisa (1847–1895) and Prince Arisugawa Taruhito (1835–1895) in 1896 in honor of their role in the First Sino-Japanese War that ended one year earlier. The first woman 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 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. For the postage stamps a revised design by Yoshida Toyo was used.[2][3] A definitive series in 1942 reflected Japan's entry into World War II, with designs including war workers and saluting aviators. After World War II the first person depicted on a stamp was in 1947 Baron Maejima Hisoka (1835–1919), the founder of the Japanese postal service, as part of a definitive series.
This following lists people who have been featured on Japanese postage stamps in alphabetic order.
| Name | Year | Profession | Stamp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akihito | 1959 | Emperor of Japan | |
| Akutagawa Ryunosuke | 1999 | Writer | |
| Ando Hiroshige | 1997 | Painter | |
| Arashi Kanjūrō | 2000 | Actor | |
| Arisukawanomiya Taruhito | 1896 | Royal Family | |
| Atsumi Kiyoshi | 2000, 2006 | Actor | |
| Bandō Tsumasaburō | 1999 | Actor | |
| Beethoven, Ludwig van | 2005 | German composer | |
| Buchanan, James | 1960 | American President | |
| Chishū Ryū | 2006 | Actor | |
| Clark, William S. | 2001 L | Professor | |
| Chiossone, Edoardo | 1994 | Engraving specialist | |
| Daidouzan | 1979 | Sumo Wrestler | |
| Doi Takao | 2000 | Astronaut | |
| Enomoto Kenichi | 2000 | Actor | |
| Fujiwara Yoshie | 1998 | Opera Singer | |
| Fujiwara no Kamatari | 1939, 1945 | Founder of the Fujiwara clan | |
| Fujiwara no Teika | 2005 | Waka poet | |
| Fukada Hisaya | 2003 L | ||
| Fukuzawa Yukichi | 1950, 1958 | Teacher, translator, entrepreneur and political theorist | |
| Furuhashi Hironoshin | 2000 | Swimmer | |
| Futabayama Sadaji | 2000 | Sumo Wrestler | |
| Gotokudaiji no Sadaijin | 2006 | ||
| Hamada Mitsuo | 2006 | Actor | |
| Hanawa Hokinoichi | 1996 | Japanologist | |
| Hanaoka Seishū | 2000, 2004 | Physician | |
| Hara Setsuko | 2006 | Actress | |
| Hayami Gyoshu | 1994 | Painter | |
| Hayashi Fumiko | 2000 | Novelist | |
| Higuchi Ichiyō | 1951, 1981 | Author | |
| Hiraga Gennai | 2004 | Inventor | |
| Hirata Mitsuru | 2006 | Actor | |
| Hishida Shunsō | 1951 | Painter | |
| Hitomi Kinue | 2000 | Athlete | |
| Hornfischer, Kurt | 1952 | German heavyweight wrestler | |
| Hozumi Nobushige | 1999 | Statesman, legal expert | |
| Ichikawa Danjūrō IX | 1950 | Kabuki actor | |
| Ichikawa Danjūrō XI | 1991 | Kabuki actor | |
| Ichikawa Ebizo | 1956, 2000 | Kabuki actor | |
| Ichikawa Komazo III | 1988 | Kabuki actor | |
| Ichikawa Raizo | 2006 | Actor | |
| Ino Tadataka | 1995 | Surveyor, cartographer | |
| Iseno Taifu | 2006 | ||
| Ishihara Yujiro | 1997 | Actor, singer | |
| Ishikawa Goemon | 1992 | Ninja warrior | |
| Iwai Hanshiro | 1984 | ||
| Iwai Kumejiro | 1988 | ||
| Iwamigata | 1979 | ||
| Iwasaki Yataro | 1986 | Founder of Mitsubishi Company Group | |
| Izumo no Okuni | 1989, 2003 | Founder of Kabuki | |
| Jingū | 1908 | Empress | |
| Jinmaku | 1978 | ||
| Jitukawa Nobuwaka II | 1992 | ||
| Kamiya Jihee | 1991 | ||
| Kanaguri Shizo | 1999 | Marathon runner | |
| Kaneko Misuzu | 2003 L | Poet | |
| Kanō Hōgai | 1951 | Painter | |
| Kataoka Nizaemon XIII | 1992 | ||
| Katsushika Hokusai | 1999 | Painter | |
| Katsura Beicho III | 1999 | Rakugo Teller | |
| Katsura Bunraku VIII | 1999 | Rakugo Teller | |
| Kawabata Yasunari | 1999, 2000 | Writer | |
| Kawakami Otojiro | 1999 | Actor | |
| Kawakami Sadayakko | 1999 | Actress, Business woman | |
| Kazama Morio | 2006 | Actor | |
| Keller, Helen | 2000 | Deafblind American author | |
| Kimura Sakae | 1952 | Astronomer | |
| Ki no Tsurayuki | 1993 | Author | |
| Kishi Keiko | 2000, 2006 | Actress | |
| Kitano Takeshi | 2006 | Film director, comedian | |
| Prince Kitashirakawa Yoshihisa | 1896 | Prince | |
| Kitasato Shibasaburō | 2003 | Physician and bacteriologist | |
| Kobayashi Akira | 2006 | Actor, singer | |
| Kobayashi Takiji | 2000 | Author | |
| Kōda Rohan | 1997 | Author | |
| Koga Masao | 2004 | Composer | |
| Kokontei Shincho V | 1999 | Rakugo Teller | |
| Komura Jutaro | 1999 L | Statesman, diplomat | |
| Kondo Makoto | 1986 | Educator | |
| Koizumi Yakumo | 2004 | Author | |
| Kumagai Naozane | 1992 | Bushi | |
| Kume Danjo | 1991 | ||
| Kunisada Chuji | 1999 | ||
| Kuroki Hitomi | 2006 | Actress | |
| Kurosawa Akira | 2000 | Film Director | |
| Kyō Machiko | 2006 | Actress | |
| Maejima Hisoka | 1927, 1946, 1947, 1951, 1952, 1961, 1968, 1985, 1994 | Statesman, politician, businessman | |
| Masako, Crown Princess of Japan | 1993, 2000 | Princess | |
| Masaoka Shiki | 1951, 2001 L, 2002 | Author, poet | |
| Yūsaku Matsuda | 2006 | Actor | |
| Matsui Sumako | 1999 | Actress | |
| Matsumoto Koshiro VII | 1991 | Kabuki actor | |
| Matsuo Bashō | 1987, 1989, 2002 L | Poet | |
| Matsuzaka Keiko | 2006 | Actress | |
| Empress Michiko of Japan | 1959 | Empress | |
| Mifune Toshirō | 2000, 2006 | Actor | |
| Minamoto no Yoritomo | 1968, 1982 | First Shōgun of Kamakura Shogunate | |
| Mishima Yahiko | 1999 | Athlete | |
| Misora Hibari | 1997, 2000 | Singer | |
| Miyagi Michio | 1994 | Composer, musician | |
| Miyazawa Kenji | 1996 | Author, poet | |
| Miyazawa Rie | 2006 | Actress | |
| Mori Masayuki | 2006 | Actor | |
| Mori Ōgai | 1951, 1990 | Physician, translator, novelist, poet | |
| Motoori Norinaga | 2001 | Scholar of Kokugaku | |
| Nagaoka Hantaro | 2000, 2003 | Physicist | |
| Nagashima Shigeo | 2000 | Baseball player | |
| Nakamura Baigyoku III | 1991 | Kabuki actor | |
| Nakamura Ganjiro II | 1991 | Kabuki actor | |
| Nakamura Hakuo I | 1992 | Kabuki actor | |
| Nakamura Kichiemon I | 1992 | Kabuki actor | |
| Nakamura Teijo | 2000 | Poet | |
| Nakamura Utaemon VI | 1991 | Kabuki actor | |
| Nakamura Kanzaburo XVII | 1992 | Kabuki actor | |
| Nakatsuhime | 1988 | ||
| Nakaya Ukichiro | 2000 | Physicist | |
| Naruhito, Crown Prince of Japan | 1993, 2000 | Prince | |
| Naruse Jinzo | 2000 | Educator | |
| Natsume Masako | 2006 | Actress | |
| Natsume Sōseki | 1950, 1999 | Novelist | |
| Niijima Jo | 1950 | Educator | |
| Nishi Amane | 1952 | Philosopher | |
| Nishida Kitaro | 1995 | Philosopher | |
| Nishina Yoshio | 1990 | Physicist | |
| Nitobe Inazo | 1952 | Agricultural Economist, Author, Educator, Diplomat, Politician | |
| Nogi Maresuke | 1937, 1938, 1942, 1944, 1945 | General | |
| Noguchi Hideyo | 1949, 1999 | Doctor, bacteriologist | |
| Noguchi, Isamu | 2004 | Japanese - American artist, landscape architect | |
| Nukata no Ookimi | 1981 | ||
| Oda Mikio | 2000 | Athlete | |
| Oe Kenzaburo | 2000 | Author | |
| Ogiya Yugiri | 1991 | ||
| Oh Sadaharu | 2000 | Baseball player | |
| Okakura Tenshin | 1952 | Scholar | |
| Okochi Denjiro | 2006 | Actor | |
| Onoe Baiko VII | 1992 | Kabuki actor | |
| Onoe Bairyoku II | 1992 | Kabuki actor | |
| Onoe Kikugoro VI | 1991 | Kabuki actor | |
| Ono no Komachi | 2005 | Poet | |
| Ono no Michikaze | 2000 L | Calligrapher | |
| Oshi kochi no Mitsune | 2006 | ||
| Otani Oniji | 1984 | Kabuki actor | |
| Ōtsuki Fumihiko | 2000 | Lexicographer, Linguist, Historian | |
| Ozaki Yukio | 1960 | Politician | |
| Ozawa Seiji | 2000 | Conductor | |
| Ozu Yasujiro | 2003 L | Film director | |
| Palusalu, Kristjan | 1952 | Estonian heavyweight wrestler | |
| Raiden Tameemon | 1978 | Sumo Wrestler | |
| Rikidōzan | 2000 | Wrestler | |
| Russell, George | 1949 | Boy Scout | |
| Saito Mokichi | 2003 | Poet | |
| Saito Musashibo Benkei | 1991 | Warrior | |
| Sakai Yoshinori | 1996 | Athlete, who lit the Olympic Flame, 1964. Former Fuji Television Director | |
| Sakamoto Ryōma | 2000 | Leader of the movement to overthrow the Tokugawa bakufu | |
| Sanada Hiroyuki | 2006 | Actor | |
| Sano Tsunetami | 1939 | Statesman, Founder of the Japanese Red Cross Society | |
| Sanyutei Ensho VI | 1999 | Rakugo Teller | |
| Sata Keiji | 2000 | Actor | |
| Sato Ichiei | 1999 L | Poet | |
| Sawamura Eiji | 2000 | Baseball player | |
| Seki Takakazu | 1992 | Mathematician | |
| Shiba Ryotaro | 2000 | Novelist | |
| Shigemitsu Mamoru | 2000 | Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| Shimamura Hogetsu | 1999 | Writer | |
| Shimazaki Toson | 1993 | Author | |
| Shinmi Masaoki | 1960 | Ambassador | |
| Shirase Nobu | 1960, 1999 | Explorer | |
| Sho Deikun | 1993 | ||
| Shoriki Matsutaro | 1984 | Owner of Yomiuri Media Group, Minister of Science Technology | |
| Shotoku Taishi | 2000 | Prince | |
| Siebold, Philipp Franz von | 1996 | German physician | |
| Soga Goro | 1992 | ||
| Soga Juro | 1992 | ||
| Sugihara Chiune | 2000 | Diplomat | |
| Soma Gyofu | 1995 L | Poet | |
| Suo no Naishi | 2006 | ||
| Suzuki Umetaro | 1993 | Scientist | |
| Takamine Hideko | 2006 | Actress | |
| Takamura Kotaro | 2000 | Poet and sculptor | |
| Takehisa Yumeji | 1999 | Painter | |
| Takekuma | 1979 | Sumo Wrestler | |
| Takemoto Gidayu | 2001 | Gidayu bushi Singer | |
| Takizawa Bakin | 1998 | Author | |
| Tanaka Kinuyo | 2000 | Actress | |
| Tanakadate Aikitsu | 2002 | Geophysicist | |
| Terada Torahiko | 1952 | Physicist, author | |
| Tezuka Osamu | 1997 | Manga artist, animator | |
| Tōgō Heihachirō | 1937, 1938, 1942, 1944, 1945 | Fleet Admiral | |
| Tomii Masaaki | 1999 | Jurist | |
| Tomohiko Takeuchi | 1984 | Poet | |
| Tsuboi Sakae | 2000 | Novelist, Poet | |
| Tsuda Umeko | 2000 | Educator | |
| Tsuruta Kōji | 2006 | Actor | |
| Tsuruta Yoshiyuki | 2000 | Swimmer | |
| Tsubouchi Shoyo | 1950 | Author, Critic, Playwright, Translator | |
| Uchimura Kanzo | 1951 | Author, Christian Evangelist | |
| Uehara Ken | 2000 | Actor | |
| Uemura Shoen | 1999 | Painter | |
| Ume Kenjirō | 1952, 1999 | Legal scholar | |
| Yoshijirō Umezu | 2000 | Chief commander of the Japanese army | |
| Watanabe Kazan | 1993 | Painter | |
| Yakushimaru Hiroko | 2006 | Actress, singer | |
| Kōji Yakusho | 2006 | Actor | |
| Yamabe no Akahito | 2006 | Poet | |
| Yamamoto Yuzo | 2000 | Novelist, playwright | |
| Yanagiya Kosan V | 1999 | Rakugo Teller | |
| Yorozuya Kinnosuke | 2006 | Actor | |
| Yosano Akiko | 1992, 1999 | Author, poet, social reformer | |
| Yoshida Shigeru | 1996 | Prime Minister | |
| Yoshida Shoin | 1959 | Scholar | |
| Yoshikawa Eiji | 2000 | Novelist | |
| Yoshinaga Sayuri | 2006 | Actress | |
| Yoshino Sakuzo | 1999 | Author, political thinker | |
| Yoshioka Yayoi | 2000 | Physician, Women's rights activist | |
| Yukawa Hideki | 1985, 2000 | Theoretical physicist |
Literature edit
- 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
References edit
- ^ Most valuable Japanese stamps
- ^ Bank of Japan: image of Empress Jingū on bank note (1883)
- ^ 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
External links edit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to People on stamps of Japan.
- Famous people on stamps of Japan by year, colnect.com
- Women on stamps of Japan by year, colnect.com