Tokyo Stamp Specialty Stores Compete to Design Stamps of Shibusawa Eiichi, Tsuda Umeko, and Kitasato-Shibasaburo! Eiichi Shibusawa, Umeko Tsuda, and Shibasaburo Kitasato! Posted on the special website of Tokyo Seal Cooperative Association

To commemorate the issuance of new banknotes on July 3, 2024 (Wednesday) for the first time in 20 years, Tokyo stamp stores competed to design stamps of Shibusawa Eiichi, Tsuda Umeko, and Kitasato Shibasaburo to be used as portraits on the new 10,000 yen, 5,000 yen, and 1,000 yen bills, respectively. All the designs are posted on the special website of the Tokyo Seal Cooperative Association, the organizer of the competition.

The Japanese version of the special site: https://tokyohanko.jp/nbj.html

Eiichi Shibusawa Stamp Design

Japanese version of the site and 2D code of the video

The association solicited designs for four types of stamps: "Shibusawa Eiichi," "Shibusawa Eiichi," "Tsuda Umeko," and "Kitasato-Shibasaburo. A total of more than 140 entries were received from member stamp stores.

It is noteworthy that no two designs look the same. Each hanko shows a different and unique personality and expression.

Mr. Takeguchi, chairman of the Tokyo Seal Cooperative Association and organizer of this unique project, "I wrote the hanko of the three greats of the new banknote," said, "No two hanko in the world are the same. It is a matter of course that no two stamps in the world are the same, otherwise they cannot fulfill their original role of "protecting the rights and property of the owner. The Hanko Shop always strives to produce "unique" hanko. In particular, some stores have recently developed their own unique typefaces, aiming to create more individualized hanko. We hope you will enjoy the world of hanko, which are all different even if they use the same characters.

Popularity vote for a chance to win a 5,000-yen QUO card by lottery

The association is holding a "popularity contest" to select the most popular stamps of the three greats of the new banknote. Voters will be able to choose their favorite stamp from the categories of "Eiichi Shibusawa," "Eiichi Shibusawa," "Umeko Tsuda," and "Shibasaburo Kitazato," and vote for their favorite stamp using the dedicated form. (Voters must be residents of Japan.)

Tap the image of the stamp to open a detailed introduction page of the store that created the design. The page provides not only basic information such as the store's location, map, and hours of operation, but also the history of the store and its commitment to its stamps.

English version of the website and video are also being produced.

In addition to the Japanese version, the association has also created an English version of the site with the same content.

English version of the site: https://tokyohanko.jp/nbe.html

Eiichi Shibusawa English version

2D code for the English version of the site and video

Regarding the reason for creating the English version of the website, Mr. Takeguchi continues, "The Corona disaster has made it possible for us to 'de-radicalize' the disease. Since the Corona disaster, the demand for stamps in Japan has unfortunately been on the decline. On the other hand, however, hankos with names engraved on them are becoming increasingly popular among foreign visitors to Japan, who consider them to be a special Japanese souvenir for that person alone. We wanted to take this opportunity to promote the appeal of hanko to the world at large.

As with the Japanese version, tapping the image of a stamp on the English version of the site will bring up the English page of the store that created the design. In addition, the association distributes to all member stores an "English customer service sheet" that provides information on stamp materials, sizes, typefaces, prices, delivery dates, etc. in an easy-to-understand manner for foreign customers, to support smooth ordering even for stores not familiar with English.

Chairman Takeguchi concludes. Many customers, both in Japan and overseas, want to have a stamp with the typeface and design of their choice that they can use for a long time. We hope you will be able to find your favorite among the three stamps of the greats that have been selected for the new banknotes. Please feel free to participate in the popularity contest."