Traditional Japanese House Series 5

C1642: House of the Iwases, C1643-1644: Houses of the Shirakawagou

IssueTraditional Japanese House Series 5
Date of Issue16 February 1999 (Heisei 11)
Denomination80 yenhorizontal se-tenant pair of 80 yen
Quantity15,000,000 copies15,000,000 se-tenant pairs
DesignsC1642: House of the IwasesC1643-1644:Houses of the Shirakawagou
Image Area33.0 x 33.0 millimeters34.5 x 33.0 millimeters
PrintingPhotogravure in 5 colours and Intaglio in 1 colour
Sheet20 stamps (two sets of 2 x 5)
PhotographersKanematsu FumiakiHibi Sadao
EngraversSasaki HirofumiUematsu Kouji

Japanese Stamp Specialized Catalog (JSCA) & SAKURA Catalog numbers are adopted.


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(Small Notes for the Issue)

C1642: The house of the Iwases is the largest and representative house in form of Gasshou-zukuri (house with a steep roof) in Gokayama area, Toyama. Its gabled roof slopes in a distinctly precipitous fashion that the snow does not lie heavily on roof. The house has a tri-level attic designed for silkworm cultivation and storage. The Gasshou-zukuri houses were made of wood without using any nails.

C1643: The houses of Gasshou-zukuri in Ogimachi, Gifu, are appointed as the site of World Heritage of UNESCO. In the area, the fifty-nine Gasshou-zukuri houses, rice-plant sheds, wooden warehouses and waterways are all appointed as the objects of preservation.