Sometimes it is surprising what continues in a troubled time. Japan, for the first time in it’s history was occupied by a foreign military. There was a great shortage of food, much damage, many returning from overseas, and an old establishment trying to retain it’s position. There were however versions of this stamp issue to commemorate stamp collecting shows. There were also performances of Noh plays, that dated from the 14th century. So slip on your smoking jacket, fill your pipe, take your first sip of your adult beverage, and sit back in your most comfortable chair. Welcome to todays offering from The Philatelist.
The image on this stamp is not the image of a baby but a mask used by an actor during a Noh play. Through the use of a mask, a then all male actor could portray old or young, male or female. Through tilting his head, the actor is able to convey an emotion through the mask. The mask is painted egg shells over a base of cypress wood
Todays stamp is issue A172, a 50 yen stamp issued by Japan when it was under post war occupation. This was a thirteen stamp issue in different denominations. Most were issued without gum on the back. According to the Scott catalog, the stamp is worth $2 used.
Noh plays began in the 14th century. They are musical plays on serious subjects performed in succession often with comedic interludes in between. The plays were often based off Japanese literature. Usually a supernatural takes on a human form to face a challenge on earth. There is another actor playing an antagonist.
The performance of Noh plays became much less common in the 19th century as Japan industrialized and westernized. Then a strange thing happened. There was a movement among the children of Japan’s newly well off to study the old techniques. As many of the children taking the classes were girls, the acting, chorus and band roles began to open to them, it would be a while yet before women would be allowed in professional adult performances. The professional adult performances now continue with major government subsidies as Noh is recognized as an important part of Japanese heritage.
Japan was in a fairly desperate state when this stamp was issued. Japan during the war had kept themselves fed by bringing in food from the occupied territories. During the American occupation called Operation Blacklist this was replaced by American food aid paid for by loans to Japan. The many occupation troops also brought with them their own food so not to further tax the Japanese shortage. America launched a series of reforms modeled on the American new deal. Fighting this was the well off under the old system. Where it worked best was in agriculture, where about 40 % of the farmland was bought from the rich and given at token prices to the peasants. In industry, America wanted to break apart the system of business alliances that choked competition. There was little luck with this though the alliances took a new name called keretzu that indicated they were less formal.
The occupation faded between 1949 and 1952 and the large occupation force mostly left to fight in Korea. On the last official day of it in 1952, a large Japanese newspaper complained that the occupation left the people of Japan listless, irresponsible, and obsequious. Perhaps I could suggest they should see an old play or take up stamp collecting?
Well my drink is empty and nobody is seeing public plays right now. Many indeed are feeling listless, irresponsible, and obsequious. I have a suggestion for them. Come again tomorrow for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting.