On Apr 19, 6:18*pm, "rodney" wrote:
Fascinating Blair.

Every New Year, Japan runs a postcard lottery. *Here are the semi
postal stamps for Year of the Ox.
http://whatjapanthinks.com/image09/o...ama-stamps.jpg

I do not understand this one,
how does the Japan system work?
this sheet is similar, is it semi postal or just a ss?http://cjoint.com/data/evn224lyOF.htm

Thanks

For example, you buy the postcard which has the imprint of semi postal
stamps (eg 50 + 3 yen and 80 + 3 yen). I assume that the 6 yen covers
cost of the card + some prizes, although I believe some companies
donate prizes as a means of publicity.The card has a serial number on
it.

Next you write your Happy New Year message and mail me the postcard in
mid to late December.
The Japanese Post Office holds it and all are delivered on New Years
Day.

About Jan 15, the winning numbers are published and everyone checks
their cards for a winner.
Prizes are not money, but electronics, manufactured goods, stamps,
etc.

Sending New Year's postcards (nengajo) to relatives, friends,
teachers, classmates, and co-workers is a very important custom in
Japan. Nengajo should be delivered on January 1st. People are happy to
receive and read those nengajo on New Year's Day. Japanese post
offices accept New Year's cards from mid-December, and they deliver
them on New Year's Day. It's a tradition for Japanese people to write
New Year's cards during December. It's best to mail nengajo before
Dec. 25th. Be sure to write 'nenga' under the stamp or use prepaid New
Year's postcards issued by Japan Post Network so that postal workers
can distinguish New Year cards from regular mail.

Prepaid New Year's postcards with lottery numbers are the kind most
commonly used by Japanese people. The lottery's winning numbers are
picked in mid-January. The prizes aren't money but are various
household goods, such as electronics, stamps, and so on. Those prepaid
postcards are basically plain, so people print photos or images, draw
pictures, and write messages on their own.

Another important part of the etiquette is not to send a New Year's
card to a family in mourning. You might receive postcards from people
who are in mourning from mid. November, notifying you that they won't
receive and send New Year's greeting cards that year.

Blair