I am not particularly knowledgeable about Japanese postcards, other than that I have a few.
But the Japanese writing on the back of this card is written right to left, which was customary before the post-WW2 Occupation era, when the direction changed from left to right. (For horizontal writing. Vertical writing is still common, too.)
I can't see the image well enough to evaluate the paper, but it looks a little bit thicker and whiter than it might, so I would say it's from the 1930's. But that's just my guess, and I'd welcome comment from others more knowledgeable.
I meant to add that the Japanese writing says "yuubin hagaki" (郵便ã¯ãŒã), or, wait for it ...
"postcard."
"Yuubin" (郵便)means "postal" or "post office" (as an adjective), and "hagaki" (ã¯ãŒã)means "postcard."
As far as I know, there is not in Japanese that subtle distinction between "postal card" and "postcard", especially since this card does not appear to be in any way issued by the Japanese post office (nor does it have a prepaid indicium).
More than you ever wanted to know! (and were afraid to ask ...)
Not really, I thank you for the help, my Dad was in the 5th Air Corps during WWII and was part of the occupation after the war ended. He was stationed at Tachikawa Air Base, I found this and a couple of others in a box of my Mothers belongings.
MUCH APPRECIATED...........Bill
That's nice, Bill, that this card has a personal connection. It's good that you came upon them.
I wish I could pin the date a little more closely for you.
-- Dave
"the Japanese writing says "yuubin hagaki" (郵便ã¯ãŒã), or, wait for it ...
"postcard."
"Yuubin" (郵便)means "postal" or "post office" (as an adjective), and "hagaki" (ã¯ãŒã)means "postcard." "
Thanks, Doe!
I'm a bit reluctant to say that I woke up in the middle of the night last night and remembered that they used to be called "hakaki".
(It's not pretty in my head ... My last recollection when I woke up this morning was that I was on a not-charming street in Paris, where another American scholar and I were trying to get our papers published, and for some reason I needed to make a wheat flour of a very fine grind. )
I only knew that "hakaki" preceeded "hagaki" in usage, but I did not realize that there was a specific date for the switchover, so thank you for digging that up!
Despite a little Googling this morning, I could not quickly figure out _why_ the change from "ka" to "ga" was made. However, those two syllables are very closely related. In fact, "ga" is kind of like a derivative of "ka", with just the addition of 2 small strokes to make the change. (This is true for all 5 Japanese syllables beginning with "k": "ka ... ki ... ku ... ke ... ko")
This chart is the best one I could find easily to show the difference. And you can see how certain other families of syllables go through something similar.
"ka" and "ga" are in the first row, second and third columns.
Well done, Doe!
-- Dave
" ... More than you ever wanted to know! ..."
As long as we live and breathe there is no limit to what a stamper wants to know, or will enjoy having learned once the story is told.
" ...He was stationed at Tachikawa Air Base, I found this and a couple of others in a box of my Mothers belongings. ..."
A box, ? A shoebox, possibly ?
Leaves of Life
An aged shoebox, scuffed and worn,
Its corners crumpled, tied with twine,
A trove of treasures, crammed with cards,
Some crumpled photos, and a Victory Ribbon, with four Bronze Stars.
Young boys in Texas, being trained for war,
Young men in France, the XVI Corps,
The first owned car, a smart black Ford,
A few love notes, affection's horde.
A tight wrapped bundle, stiff from years,
Of closet's back shelves, and dank, dark eaves,
A life's momentos, smiles and tears,
The tree of life, these were its leaves.
A faded postcard; "How are you, Mom?"
A ration book, and a World's Fair pass,
The Mirror's image; "It's YANKS AGAIN !"
All shared the shoebox with the Victory Ribbon,
And those lonely four Bronze stars.
A neighbor asked for help one day,
I said, "T'would be no bother."
I'd help him clean the empty house,
Of his wife's deceased grandfather.
All things of value now were gone,
Removed by sons and daughters,
A few'd been sold, or trucked away,
For use in other's quarters.
But in the bedroom closet, we found this shoebox,
On the top shelf pushed to the rear,
With the things they all considered junk,
But this old veteran had held dear.
It seems so sad that none close had shared,
Those memories and dreams of yore,
Enough, to treasure this crumpled box,
With its Victory Ribbon, and the four,
Bronze Battle Stars.
re: Japan Postcard Era?
I am not particularly knowledgeable about Japanese postcards, other than that I have a few.
But the Japanese writing on the back of this card is written right to left, which was customary before the post-WW2 Occupation era, when the direction changed from left to right. (For horizontal writing. Vertical writing is still common, too.)
I can't see the image well enough to evaluate the paper, but it looks a little bit thicker and whiter than it might, so I would say it's from the 1930's. But that's just my guess, and I'd welcome comment from others more knowledgeable.
re: Japan Postcard Era?
I meant to add that the Japanese writing says "yuubin hagaki" (郵便ã¯ãŒã), or, wait for it ...
"postcard."
"Yuubin" (郵便)means "postal" or "post office" (as an adjective), and "hagaki" (ã¯ãŒã)means "postcard."
As far as I know, there is not in Japanese that subtle distinction between "postal card" and "postcard", especially since this card does not appear to be in any way issued by the Japanese post office (nor does it have a prepaid indicium).
More than you ever wanted to know! (and were afraid to ask ...)
re: Japan Postcard Era?
Not really, I thank you for the help, my Dad was in the 5th Air Corps during WWII and was part of the occupation after the war ended. He was stationed at Tachikawa Air Base, I found this and a couple of others in a box of my Mothers belongings.
MUCH APPRECIATED...........Bill
re: Japan Postcard Era?
That's nice, Bill, that this card has a personal connection. It's good that you came upon them.
I wish I could pin the date a little more closely for you.
-- Dave
re: Japan Postcard Era?
"the Japanese writing says "yuubin hagaki" (郵便ã¯ãŒã), or, wait for it ...
"postcard."
"Yuubin" (郵便)means "postal" or "post office" (as an adjective), and "hagaki" (ã¯ãŒã)means "postcard." "
re: Japan Postcard Era?
Thanks, Doe!
I'm a bit reluctant to say that I woke up in the middle of the night last night and remembered that they used to be called "hakaki".
(It's not pretty in my head ... My last recollection when I woke up this morning was that I was on a not-charming street in Paris, where another American scholar and I were trying to get our papers published, and for some reason I needed to make a wheat flour of a very fine grind. )
I only knew that "hakaki" preceeded "hagaki" in usage, but I did not realize that there was a specific date for the switchover, so thank you for digging that up!
Despite a little Googling this morning, I could not quickly figure out _why_ the change from "ka" to "ga" was made. However, those two syllables are very closely related. In fact, "ga" is kind of like a derivative of "ka", with just the addition of 2 small strokes to make the change. (This is true for all 5 Japanese syllables beginning with "k": "ka ... ki ... ku ... ke ... ko")
This chart is the best one I could find easily to show the difference. And you can see how certain other families of syllables go through something similar.
"ka" and "ga" are in the first row, second and third columns.
Well done, Doe!
-- Dave
re: Japan Postcard Era?
" ... More than you ever wanted to know! ..."
As long as we live and breathe there is no limit to what a stamper wants to know, or will enjoy having learned once the story is told.
re: Japan Postcard Era?
" ...He was stationed at Tachikawa Air Base, I found this and a couple of others in a box of my Mothers belongings. ..."
A box, ? A shoebox, possibly ?
Leaves of Life
An aged shoebox, scuffed and worn,
Its corners crumpled, tied with twine,
A trove of treasures, crammed with cards,
Some crumpled photos, and a Victory Ribbon, with four Bronze Stars.
Young boys in Texas, being trained for war,
Young men in France, the XVI Corps,
The first owned car, a smart black Ford,
A few love notes, affection's horde.
A tight wrapped bundle, stiff from years,
Of closet's back shelves, and dank, dark eaves,
A life's momentos, smiles and tears,
The tree of life, these were its leaves.
A faded postcard; "How are you, Mom?"
A ration book, and a World's Fair pass,
The Mirror's image; "It's YANKS AGAIN !"
All shared the shoebox with the Victory Ribbon,
And those lonely four Bronze stars.
A neighbor asked for help one day,
I said, "T'would be no bother."
I'd help him clean the empty house,
Of his wife's deceased grandfather.
All things of value now were gone,
Removed by sons and daughters,
A few'd been sold, or trucked away,
For use in other's quarters.
But in the bedroom closet, we found this shoebox,
On the top shelf pushed to the rear,
With the things they all considered junk,
But this old veteran had held dear.
It seems so sad that none close had shared,
Those memories and dreams of yore,
Enough, to treasure this crumpled box,
With its Victory Ribbon, and the four,
Bronze Battle Stars.