I have been following this thread and I have a question outside the realm of the thread:
as you are interested in Japan postage stamps, perhaps you can help me with my inquiry.
I am trying to find Japan postage stamps collectors, preferably in Japan--although not necessarily--willing to exchange stamps with me and comment on the postage stamps origins, etc. I collect Art in Postage Stamps: from Japan my interests are: 1. ukiyo-e, 2. paintings, 3, original architecture, and 4. folklore art.
I have purchased stamps from stamporama's approvals and auctions, and also from eBay. Purchasing is nice and good, but I cannot exchange information on the stamps or the cultural facts behind the stamps. (You seem to do some excellent research on pricing, catalog numeration, specs related to the stamps, but I have not read "the rest of the story" related to the "genesis" of those definitive issues. I know some of the definitive images have their origin in famous paintings that engravers used as models. For example: the 1922-1929 and 1930-1937, Scott 172, bears an image of Mt Fuji under the clouds. Mt. Fuji under the clouds, is a theme among ukiyo-e print artists: Hokusai, HIroshige, and others. However, the image closely resembles an ukiyo-e print created by Taikan Yokoyama (1868-1958). Who designed that postage stamp, as well as the Yomei Gate, Nikko and the Nagoya Castle stamps?
Any information is appreciated. My email address: rgbritophilately@gmail.com
Thanks!!
One last comment: on the scan provided by SForgCA, (1946 New Showa Sk 281-293 1st imperf) the two 1 en blues, is from another iconic wood block print by Hokusai, also called "Mt.Fuji Above the Lightning" or "Black Fuji". Hokusai did not design the stamp, of course, but his work inspired the definitive postage stamp image. There is a misunderstanding that ukiyo-e images started appearing on postage stamps in Japan in 1948 with Horonobu's "Beauty Looking Back", Scott 422.
Of great interest is the Stamporama article by Bob Ingraham, The Many Faces of Mt Fuji, from 2009.
There are several japanese books on postal history
There is one translated about the Showa Period covering 65 years available from several sources
65 Years in Stamps: A Philatelic History of the Showa Period Tatsuji, Nishioka