The 50th Anniversary of the Science Council of Japan
Commemorative Stamp


Commemorative Stamp of the 50th Anniversary of the Science Council of Japan (The diagonal black line is necessary in any public representation of a stamp in Japan)

According to the postal service, the Science Council of Japan was established in 1949 in order promote science in the lives of citizens in Japan. The basic principle of the Council is that science is the foundation of a civilized nation, and this institute represents scientists and scientific development throughout Japan. This year (1999) is the 50th anniversary of the Council.

A rainbow is used as a symbol for the Council to represent seven primary divisions:

Literature, Philosophy, Psychology, History, and Education
Law and Politics
Economics and Business
Science Studies
Engineering
Agriculture
Medicine

Mount Fuji symbolizes the wide foundation for the 700,000 scientists living and working in Japan. The people and buildings shown in the stamp portray the ideal that science prevails in Japan. The illustrator of the stamp, Mitsumasa Anno, remarked:

Nothing remains in ones mind like the memory of a rainbow seen in childhood. Rainbows always fascinate us. Children often paint seven-color dreams. I think the rainbow represented on this stamp is a gift from the muse of science.


Postal Service Announcement

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Steve Renshaw

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