COVER N. 598 - JAPAN

Postmark: Yokohama Kanagawa Japan 11.06.2025

Posted on the 11th June; Received on the 19th June 2025

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Summer is here... The season that I love the least and my wife loves the best...still it is nice to know that summer greetings is a theme strong enough to deserve its own set of stamps. Thank you so much Akira.

Hiking, seems to be the activity chosen to illustrate the season when sun shines the brightest and also the hottest.

I do like to hike. A lot. I said it here before: walking as a general displacement means was a habit I got from my father.

The earliest recollection I have of my walks with dad go back to a nebulous day in Lisbon, The year must have been 1964, for in 65 we all would go to the Algarve.

Aquila airways was a seaplane airline that operated the line Southampton /Lisbon / Funchal in the Island of Madeira, in the aftermath of the second world war.

In 1958 the company ceased its operation and for a number of years several (I do think it was more than  one, but I cannot say for certain) Short Solent seaplanes were left abandoned at Cabo Ruivo, Lisbon, and there they stood on dry dock until the 70s, when they were finally scrapped.

So my father would take me walking with him from our house in the Olivais to the Cabo Ruivo docks, by the Tagus, to go and see the airplanes. 

As the bird flies, this was just a two km walk, but dad and I were not birds, so I would guess not least than 3 km would have to be conquered, on the way in, followed by another three on the way out. Now that ends up being 6 km that the little lad of 4 that I was had to deal with before the well deserved glass of cold milk from the fridge upon arriving back at home .

Later in Faro, the Algarve, many were the days when my father would take me and my sister walking along the beach. We would start on the ocean side and return by the lagoon side... especially during winter, after storms, these walks would yield all sorts of treasures, ranging from bottles to beautiful fishing net spherical glass buoys...

But i digress...

and in reality, Summer seems to be the season when I hike the least, because of the weather... and it is getting worse with each year that passes..

As I write, 40 º + Centigrade will be hitting parts of  my small country for the whole week... Hike, anyone?

On 11JUN2025, Japan Post issued a 5 x 85 Yen self-adhesive stamp set themed on Summer Greeting. 

Further to the Trekking and eggplant stamps on te cover, the set includes stamps illustrated with other summer highlights: Ice tea, Coconut, Tomato.

The full issue comprises another 5 stamp set this time with a facial value of 110 Yen.

The first day postmark uses the Japanese date notation, that is 11th June of  year 7 of the Reiwa era (which began when Emperor Narhuito ascended the throne).