A few older stamps on this cover from the Kudanminami district in the Chiyoda ward of Tokyo. The stamps on the left from 1965 commemorate Soma Nomaoi: an annual festival going back 1000 years, that showcases military and horse riding skills. The stamp in the middle from 1988 features the UNESCO listed Itsukushima shrine near Hiroshima. And the stamp on the right from 1989 shows a small gift bowl from Nara's Tōdai Temple, circa 750 AD.
The postmark shows Yasukuni Shrine surrounded by cherry blossoms. The controversial shrine was established in 1869 to commemorate those who died in the service of Japan. It's controversial because some of the individuals honored by the shrine were convicted war criminals.
No comments:
Post a Comment