Letter Writing Week: 'Beauty Looking Back' by Hishikawa Moronobu

Japan · 1948 · 5 ¥

This stamp features the famous ukiyo-e woodblock print 'Mikaeri Bijin' or 'Beauty Looking Back' by the 17th-century artist Hishikawa Moronobu. The design captures a woman in a vibrant red kimono glancing over her shoulder, a classic pose in Japanese art. It was issued to commemorate the annual Letter Writing Week, encouraging correspondence.

Issued in 1948 during the post-WWII Allied occupation, this stamp was part of a series that celebrated traditional Japanese culture and arts, helping to foster national pride during a period of reconstruction.