Postwar Japan has seen a phenomenal increase in the Japanese stamp collecting population. The government has issued new stamps in ever increasing variety as an additional source of revenue which has caused an increased interest in philately. But the government has also incurred criticism at home and abroad for issuing too many new varieties.
Japanese postage stamps issued in the early postwar years received a low valuation on foreign markets because they were printed with war-damaged and inadequately repaired machines with poor quality ink and starched with bad quality gum. For another reason, Japan was under Allied military occupation and was denied the freedom of choice of designs. Recently however, new printing machines have been installed, materials improved, and over-issuance checked. Foreign lovers of Japanese stamps have increased in number. Japan does not yet boast large numbers of advanced collectors. Hence Japanese publications on philately are a comdown from those in the West, but thier progress has not been slow.
To issue a new stamp, the Government first draws up a program for the next year and submits it to the Commission created within the Ministry of Postal Services. The Commission is headed by the Vice Minister of Postal Services, and its membership consists of the Postmaster General, several subordinate officials and one private expert each from the fields of philately, printing, photography, and art. They order the drawing and engraving, check the proof, and, if necessary, revise and re-examine before sending to the government Printing Agency for printing.