Yusei Jigyocho Red Tazawa Stamp on Geisha "Debayashi" Postcard

 

YUSEI JIGYOCHO (Japan Postal Agency) issued on  31 October 1913 a series of definitive stamps with the Taisho  Coats of Arms / Chrysanthenum. Initially these stamps had no watermark; later issues did to prevent counterfeiting.  Printing method was simply Typography on white paper. The red stamp shown here had a value of 4 Japanese sen. Size was 21 x 26 mm.

This new series came about with the passing of Emperor Meiji. The new era of Taisho began, thus stamp designs were completely changed. For the first time an open contest with prizes was held to select a new stamp design. An entry by Tazawa Shogen (an employee of the Printing Bureau) was chosen and adopted as the design for the new standard stamps. These stamps are known as the 'Tazawa stamps' after the design's creator.

The stamp on this postcard with geisha "debayashi" musical theatre ensemble (1905). was posted in the early years of Teisho's reign. A debayashi ("on stage") ensemble was made up geisha musicians performing nagauta ("long song") dance music. The ensemble consisted of shinobue (transverse bamboo flute), kotsuzumi (drum played on the shoulder), shamisen (3-string long neck lute), and shimedaiko drum.