2600th Anniversary of the Japanese Empire

Japan · 1940 · 2 sen

This stamp commemorates the 2600th anniversary of the founding of the Japanese Empire. The design features the Kashihara Shrine in Nara Prefecture, which is dedicated to the legendary first Emperor of Japan, Emperor Jimmu. The deep blue color and detailed rendering of the shrine's architecture are characteristic of the period's printing.

Issued in 1940 during the Shōwa era, this stamp was part of a nationalistic celebration known as Kigen 2600, reinforcing Japan's imperial identity and divine origins during a period of intense militarism leading into World War II.