Prize for ThinkQuest Quiz Cup

donated by Mr. Masami Kikuchi, Video Online Workshop, Chiba Japan. originally contributed by Mrs. Tsuneko Okubo, from the Collections of late Toshio Okubo, her husband, who dedicated himself in building the community where I live, for over 30 years, from the social infrastructure to the cultural activities.
Mr. Toshio Okubo passed away on the 6th August, 2001 at the age of 68, from pneumonia.

Postal Stamps of Japan:

There are a number of official postage stamps issued by the then Ministry of Post and Telecommunications of Japan (MPT: restructured into the Ministry of General Affairs in 2000); the variety ranges from the "Commemorative", "Series", "Thematic", "Ordinary" and "Ordinary, but according to changes in postal charge systems".

I have selected the postal stamps in commemoration of "the Series of International Letter-writing Week" (the issue years of 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999), yes, truly, to commemorate our "web letter communication" for the ThinkQuest Quiz Cup 2002.

[Stamps for International Letter-Writing Week and Greetings; Cards for International Greeting]

MPT issues Stamps for International Letter-Writing Week and Greetings. International Letter-Writing Week was initiated in 1957 at the 14th Congress of Universal Postal Union (UPU), with the aim of contributing to the world peace by promoting cultural exchange through correspondence among people around the world. It was decided to observe this event during the week that includes October 9, the date of the UPU's establishment. International Letter-Writing Week was set in Japan for the week of October 6 to 12. MPT has been issuing stamps annually to commemorate this event since 1958.

Basic size per stamp

30 mm x 42 mm

Sheet design

10 (2 x 5)

Printing

5 or 6 colors, using the photo gravure technique

Face values of 90 yen, 110 yen and 130 yen correspond to Zones 1, 2 and 3 of international airmail rates for letters up to 25 g and greeting cards respectively.

Designs of the Stamps:

(7 sets of painted Japan in the tradition: - 1 set of 3 design combinations, except for those issued in 1993)

1993:

Paintings of Portraits of Two Poets among the 36 Holy Poets, admired and selected by then Emperors in the Heian Era (794 - 1192 A.D.). Painted in 12th Century; Valuable Cultural Assets of Japan. (1 set of 2 designs:photos scanned from the catalog.)

1994:

Amusing and Amused Samurai Families: Selection from the Paintings on the Partitions during the Edo Era (1604 - 1868); Painted in the mid 17th Century.(photos scanned from the catalog.)

1995:

Games of the People in the Seasons: Selection from the Paintings on the Partitions (era undescribed: photos scanned from the catalog).

1996:

Ukiyo-e Series with seasonal flowers: Selection from the Ukiyo-e wood-block printing series, ""Fugaku 36-kei, or 36 Sceneries around the Mount Fuji"", by Katsushika Hokusai (Ukiyo-e artist: AD 1760 - 1849), with the seasonal flower paintings by Ogata Korin (noted court painter of Japan style: AD 1658 - 1716) (photos scanned from the catalog.)

1997:

Ukiyo-e Series with seasonal birds: Selection from the Ukiyo-e wood-block printing series, "Tokaido 53-Tsugi, or 53 Stations on the Tokaido Route" by Ando Hiroshige (Ukiyo-e artist: AD 1797 - 1858) with the seasonal bird paintings by Sakai Hoitsu (painter of Japan style: AD 1761 - 1828).(photos scanned directly from the original.)

1998:

Paintings and wood-block printings of flowers and birds in the seasons: Selection from the paintings and wood-block printings by Ito Jakuchu (painter/wood-block printing artist: AD 1716 - 1800) (photos scanned directly from the original.)

1999 to commemorate the concurrent 125th Anniversary of the Universal Postal Union:

Ukiyo-e Series with seasonal flowers: Selection from the Ukiyo-e wood-block printing series, "Fugaku 36-kei, or 36 Sceneries around the Mount Fuji", by Katsushika Hokusai (Ukiyo-e artist: AD 1760 - 1849), with another series from "the flowers and birds/insects" also by Hokusai(photos directly scanned from the original.)
For the printing specifications, see: <http://www.yusei.go.jp/mpt_eng/Releases/PostalServices/POSTAL/news990927_5.html>

Sample Frames for Prize to be awarded