Rakugo Stamps 1999


C1702: Kokontei Shinshou V, C1703: Katsura Bunraku VIII


C1704: Sanyutei Enshou VI, C1705: Yanagiya Kosan V, C1706: Katsura Beichou III


IssueRakugo Stamps 1999
Date of Issue12 March 1999 (Heisei 11)
Denomination80 yen x 5
Quantity4,000,000 vertical se-tenant strips of five stamps
DesignsC1702: Kokontei Shinshou V (died in 1973), telling "Kaendaiko"
C1703: Katsura Bunraku VIII (died in 1971), telling "Funatoku"
C1704: Sanyutei Enshou VI (died in 1979), telling "Kogoto Koubei"
C1705: Yanagiya Kosan V (Living National Treasure), telling "Tokisoba"
C1706: Katsura Beichou III (Living National Treasure), telling "Hyakunenme"
Image AreaC1702: 25.0 x 33.7 millimeters
C1703: 25.0 x 33.5 millimeters
C1704: 25.8 x 33.5 millimeters
C1705: 25.3 x 33.5 millimeters
C1706: 25.6 x 33.5 millimeters
PrintingPhotogravure in 6 colours
SheetC1707: two vertical se-tenant strips of five stamps Picture of the sheet
DesignerYamafuji Shouji (Illustrator)
CalligraperTachibana Sakon
First Day of
Issue Postmark		Tokyo Central Post Office
Osaka Central Post Office
Japanese Stamp Specialized Catalog (JSCA) & SAKURA Catalog numbers are adopted.

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(Small Notes for the Issue)
Rakugo: Rakugo is the popular form of comic monologue in Japan, in which a storyteller, (hanashika), creates an imaginary drama through eposodic narration and skillful use of vocal and facial expressions to portray various characters. Typically, the storyteller uses no scenery; he dressed in a plain kimono with a hand towel and a fan as his only props. The stamps depict famous storytellers posed as the characters of their sttories.