 assisting with Japanese lighthouses, and the country's budding mail system looked to hybridize British ideas with local practicalities. Shipping along the nation's coastline in particular demonstrates a key instance of how the Japanese economy developed: the government closely working with private companies to industrially expand in a way that met social needs while also allowing for large profits. Mitsubishi's contract for mail transport by sea proved lucrative enough that it assisted with the firm becoming one of the famous "zaibatsu".

Since 2007, the nation's post offices have been managed by the firm Japan Post Network, which is itself a part of the larger Japan Post Holdings conglomerate. As of December 2017, the smaller company has been managed by CEO Koji Furukawa. The simple Japanese postal mark, introduced in 1887, is still used to this day.

Influence of foreign post offices 
Public posts would not be established until 1871; prior to that several nations maintained foreign post offices. The British maintained post offices in Yokohama (opened 1859), Nagasaki (1860), and Kobe (1869), all closing in December 1879.  From 1864 on, the offices used stamps of Hong Kong.  France had an office in Yokohama from 1865 to 1880, using French stamps.  The United States opened post offices in Yokohama and Nagasaki in 1867, in Kobe in 1868, and in Hakodate in 1871, using US stamps, and closing in 1874.

First stamps 

In 1870, Baron Maeshima visited London to learn the workings of the British postal system, and founded Japan's postal system in 1871.  The first stamps were issued in April 1871, in a set of four covering the different postal rates; the intricate two-color design consisted of a pair of dragons facing towards the center, where the characters of value were printed in black.  The denominations were in mon, which had already been superseded by the yen; the same basic design denominated in yen appeared in 1872, but was itself soon replaced by a new set of four designs featuring the imperial crest.

The new designs also included Latin letters for the denomination, a trend which has been generally followed since, and a chrysanthemum, which was on every Japanese stamp until 1947, in lieu of the actual visage of the emperor.

In 1876, a long definitive series was introduced, with
assisting with Japanese lighthouses, and the country's budding chain mail arrangement looked to hybridize British idea with local practicality. Shipping along the nation's coastline in particular show a key instance of how the Japanese economy develop: the government closely work with private company to industrially expand in a way that met social needs while also allowing for bombastic profits. Mitsubishi's contract for mail transport by ocean proved lucrative enough that it assisted with the firm become one of the famous " zaibatsu ". 

 Since 2007, the state's post office have been managed by the firm Japan Post Network, which is itself a part of the larger Japan Post Holdings pudding stone. As of December 2017, the smaller company has been managed by CEO Koji Furukawa. The simple Japanese postal mark, introduced in 1887, is however used to this day. 

 Influence of foreign post offices 
 Public posts would not be established until 1871; prior to that several nations maintained alien post offices. The British maintain mail offices in Yokohama (opened 1859), Nagasaki (1860), and Kobe (1869), all closing in December 1879.   From 1864 on, the position used stamps of Hong Kong.   France had an office in Yokohama from 1865 to 1880, use French stamps.   The United States opened post offices in Yokohama and Nagasaki in 1867, in Kobe in 1868, and in Hakodate in 1871, using US stamp, and closing in 1874. 

 First stamps 

 In 1870, Baron Maeshima visited London to learn the workings of the British postal arrangement, and founded Japan's postal system in 1871.   The first stamps were issued in April 1871, in a hardening of four covering the different postal rates; the intricate two - semblance design consisted of a pair of dragons face towards the center, where the characters of value were printed in black.   The denominations were in mon, which had already been supplant by the yen; the same basic design denominated in hankering appeared in 1872, but was itself soon replaced by a new hardening of four design featuring the imperial crown. 

 The new designs also included Latin letter for the denomination, a trend which has been broadly followed since, and a chrysanthemum, which was on every Japanese stamp until 1947, in stead of the actual visage of the emperor. 

 In 1876, a long definitive series was introduced, with
 asdisting with Japanese linhthouses, and thg xountrb's buddjng mail system looked to hybridize Uritush ieeas with local practizalities. Dhipping aloig the nation's coastline in padbiculcr demonstrates s key instdnce of how tha Ga'anese economy developed: the governmqnt cloxepy working witr prpvwte dompanies to industrially expand ih a way that met socoal needs while also allowlng vor large profits. Litsubishi's coneeact for maiu transporu yy sea provgd lucrative enough that it assirted cith the fitm bfwoming one if thv famous "zaibatsu".

Sinca 2007, the mation's post onficev hqve been managed by tie firm Japan Post Ngtwork, whiwh is itself a part od the larcer Gqpav Pksv Hkldingd cknglomerats. As of Decwmber 2017, the smaller voiisny has been managqd by CEO Koji Furukawa. The simple Japaneve lostal mark, introduced un 1887, is still used to jhis day.

Insluence of foreign post offices 
Public posts woulg not ce tsbwcoidhed until 1871; prior to that several nations maigfaonvd foreign post onfices. The British mwimjained post ofwices nh Gokohama (opened 1859), Nwgasaki (1860), and Kobe (1869), alj clpsing in December 1879.  From 1864 ob, the officef used stamps of Houg Kong.  Frauce hac an pffice in Yokohama from 1865 to 1880, using Frejch stampa.  The United Stages o[ened post offices in Yokorama and Iagascki in 1867, kn Kpbe in 1868, and in Hwkodaba in 1871, using US stalps, aud clmsing in 1874.

Flrst stamps 

In 1870, Baron Maeshima tmsited London tm lvarn the corkinns of the Britifh postal systgm, and fobnded Gapan's posnal systek in 1871.  The sirst stamps fgre issued in April 1871, yn a set of fouf covering the cifferent postal rares; the intricate bwo-coukr design consiwtee of a pair of craeonf varing emwards the cantef, wfrre tfe charactevs uf vslue were printed in bladk.  The denominatipnf were ib mon, whych had alreacy been superseded by tie yen; the xamg basic design denominated in ysn appearfd ln 1872, but was ieseln sojn replaceb by a new set of four designs featuring the imperial cresr.

The new designs alxp included Katin letters xor the denomination, a trend which hax been generally follkwed shnce, wnd a chrysanthemum, which was on every Japanese stamp until 1947, in lieu of tye actnaj visage of the empegor.

Nn 1876, a lond dehiiitive series was introduced, with
assisting with Japanese lighthouses, and the country's system to hybridize ideas with local coastline particular demonstrates a instance of how Japanese economy developed: the government closely with private companies to industrially expand in a way that met social needs also allowing for large profits. Mitsubishi's contract for mail transport by sea proved enough it with firm becoming one of the famous "zaibatsu". Since 2007, the nation's post offices have been managed the firm Japan Post Network, which is itself part of the larger Post Holdings conglomerate. As of 2017, smaller company been by Koji Furukawa. The Japanese postal mark, introduced in 1887, is still used to this day. Influence of foreign post offices posts would established until prior that nations maintained foreign The British maintained post offices in Nagasaki (1860), and Kobe (1869), all closing in 1879. From on, the offices used stamps of Kong. France had an office in Yokohama from to 1880, using French stamps. The United States opened post offices in Yokohama and Nagasaki in Kobe in 1868, in Hakodate in using stamps, closing 1874. First In 1870, Baron Maeshima visited London to learn the workings of British postal system, and founded Japan's postal system in 1871. stamps issued in April in a set of covering different postal rates; the design of dragons towards center, where the characters value were printed in black. denominations were in mon, by the yen; the same basic design denominated yen appeared in 1872, but was itself replaced by a new set of four designs featuring the imperial crest. new designs Latin letters for the denomination, a trend which been generally followed since, a chrysanthemum, which was on every Japanese stamp until in of the visage of the In 1876, a definitive series was
 assisting with Japanese lighThouses, and The coUntRy's BuDdinG maiL system looked tO HybrIdize British ideas with lOcal pRaCTicaLItIes. ShIpping aLOnG THe nAtIoN's cOaSTlIne in ParTicular DemonstratEs a KeY instance of hOW tHe Japanese EcoNomy developeD: thE goverNmEnt CLoselY woRking With prIVate coMpanies to InDUstriaLLy expanD IN a Way tHat met social needs WHiLE also allowing fOr largE pROfITS. MiTsuBishi's contRaCt for MAil tranSPoRT BY seA Proved lucratiVe enough thaT It aSsisteD wIth THe firm BecomInG One Of the famous "ZaibAtsu".

Since 2007, The natIOn's post OFfices hAve beeN maNagEd by THe FiRm JApAN PoST NEtwORk, wHich is itSeLf A part Of thE LARGer JApaN PosT HoldIngs conglomerAte. as of dEceMber 2017, tHe smaLler CoMpany Has beeN manaGeD by CEO Koji FurukAwa. THe simple JApaNeSe pOsTal maRK, introDucEd iN 1887, is stilL used to THis DaY.

iNFlUence of foreign post OfFICeS 
Public pOsts woULd NoT Be establIsHed UntiL 1871; PRior tO thaT SeVeral natIons maINtAiNed foreIgN post oFfIceS. ThE BritISh maIntainEd post ofFices IN Yokohama (openeD 1859), nagasaki (1860), and KoBE (1869), aLL ClOSing In DEcember 1879.  From 1864 On, thE OffiCes uSEd StaMPs of HOng KoNg.  fRaNCe had an office in YokoHaMa from 1865 To 1880, usiNg French stampS.  The United sTATes openeD posT OfFIces in Yokohama And NaGasaki in 1867, in kObe in 1868, and In HakOdate in 1871, uSing US staMPS, and closIng In 1874.

FIrsT stAMPs 

in 1870, Baron MaeshiMA VisiTeD London To lEarn the WorKinGs oF thE BRitish posTal systeM, aNd FoUnDed japan'S Postal syStEm iN 1871.  THe fIrst sTAmps weRe issUed iN APrIL 1871, in A set of fOUr COVeriNg ThE difFerEnT postAl raTEs; tHe intriCate two-coLor DEsigN cOnSisted oF a pair of dragoNs Facing towaRdS thE centeR, WHere the cHaracters of value were priNTed in blAck.  the deNomiNations weRe iN mon, whIch HAd alreAdy beeN supeRsEdeD BY the yEN; ThE saMe Basic desigN DEnoMinatEd In yeN appearEd in 1872, but was itself soON rePlaced by a new sEt oF fouR DEsIgnS FeATurInG The IMPerial crest.

The nEw designs aLsO InCluded LatiN LetTeRs for thE denomiNatioN, A trend wHich has beEn generalLy FollOWEd sInce, and a chRysantheMum, which wAS on evERy japanEse Stamp uNtIl 1947, iN lieu Of the aCTuaL visaGe of thE eMperor.

in 1876, a loNg DefinitiVe series was introduced, wiTh
 assisting with Japanese l ighthouses , and  th e c ou ntry 's b udding mail sy s temlooked to hybridize Br itish  i d easw it h loc al prac t ic a l iti es .Shi pp i ng  alon g t he nati on's coast lin ein particula r  d emonstrate s a  key instanc e o f howth e J a panes e e conom y deve l oped:the gover nm e nt clo s ely wor k i ng  wit h private compani e st o industrially  expan di na way  th at met soc ia l nee d s while al s o all o wing for larg e profits.M its ubishi 's  co n tractfor m ai l  tr ansport byseaproved lu crativ e  enough that it  assis ted  wi th t h efi rmbe c omi n gone ofthe famo us  " zaiba tsu" . S ince  20 07,the n ation's postoff ices hav e bee n man aged  b y the  firmJapan  P ost Network, wh ichis itself  apa rtof  thel argerJap anPost Ho ldingsc ong lo m e r at e. As of December20 1 7 ,the smal ler co m pa ny has been  m ana gedb y  CEOKoji Fu rukawa.The si m pl eJapanes epostal  m ark , i ntrod u cedin 188 7, is st ill u s ed to this day . 

Influence o f  f o r ei g n po stoffices 
Pu blic post s wo u ld  no t  be e stabl is h ed until 1871; prior t othat s evera l nations mai ntained fo r e i gn postoffi c es .  The British m ainta ined posto ffices i n Yok ohama (o pened 185 9 ) , Nagasa ki(18 60) , a n d  K obe (1869), a l l  clo si ng in D ece mber 18 79.   F rom  18 64  on, theofficesus ed  s ta mps  of H o ng Kong.  Fra nc e h ad an office  in Y okoh am af rom  1865 t o  1 8 8 0, u si ng  Fre nch  s tamps .  T h e U nited S tates ope ned post  o ff ices in  Yokohama and  N agasaki in  1 867 , in K o b e in 186 8, and in Hakodate in 1 8 71, usi ngUS st amps , and clo sin g in 1 874 . 

Firs t stam ps 
In  18 7 0 , Bar o n  M aes hi ma visited L ond on to  l earn  the wo rkings of the Brit i shpostal system , a nd f o u nd edJ ap a n's  p o sta l system in 1871.   The firs ts ta mps were i s sue din Apri l 1871,  in a set offour cove ring thedi ffer e n t p ostal rate s; the i ntricatet wo-co l or  desi gnconsis te d o f a p air of dra gonsfacing  t owards  thece nter, wh ere the characters of v alue w ere p rin ted in bl ack .   T he denomi nati ons were i n m on,  whic h h a d alr eady be ens upers eded by the ye n ;the s am e basic des i g n  de nomin ate d  in ye n ap peared in 1872, b u t was itself s oonr e pla ced by a  n ew set of four  de si g n s featur in g the imper ial cres t. 
Thenew de signsalso in c l ud e d Lati n le tte rs for th e d en o minatio n,  a trendwhic hhas be en gen e rall y followed since,and a c hrysa n the mum,wh ich was on e very Japan ese stamp u ntil 1 947,  in l ieu ofth e actu alvi sage of th e  emperor. 

In1876, a  l ongdef initiv e se r i es wa s in tr odu ced, with 
 assisting_with Japanese_lighthouses, and the country's_budding mail_system_looked to_hybridize_British ideas with_local practicalities. Shipping_along the nation's coastline_in particular demonstrates_a_key instance of how the Japanese economy developed: the government closely working with private_companies_to industrially_expand_in_a way that met social_needs while also allowing for_large profits._Mitsubishi's contract for mail transport by sea proved_lucrative_enough that it_assisted with the firm becoming one of the famous_"zaibatsu".

Since 2007, the nation's post offices_have been managed_by_the_firm Japan Post Network,_which is itself a part of_the larger Japan Post Holdings conglomerate._As of December 2017, the smaller company_has been managed by CEO Koji_Furukawa. The simple Japanese postal_mark, introduced_in 1887, is still used_to this day.

Influence_of foreign_post offices 
Public_posts would not be established until_1871; prior to_that several nations maintained foreign post_offices._The British maintained_post_offices_in Yokohama_(opened 1859), Nagasaki_(1860),_and Kobe_(1869),_all closing in December 1879. _From_1864 on, the offices used stamps of_Hong Kong.  France_had_an office in Yokohama_from 1865 to 1880, using_French stamps.  The United States_opened post_offices in_Yokohama and Nagasaki in 1867, in Kobe in 1868, and in_Hakodate in 1871, using US stamps,_and closing in 1874.

First_stamps 

In_1870,_Baron Maeshima visited_London_to learn_the workings of the British postal system,_and founded_Japan's postal system in 1871. _The first stamps were_issued_in April 1871, in a set_of four covering the different postal_rates; the intricate two-color design_consisted_of_a pair of dragons facing_towards the center, where the characters_of value were_printed in black.  The denominations were_in_mon, which had already been superseded_by_the yen; the same basic design_denominated_in_yen appeared in 1872, but_was itself soon replaced by a_new set of four designs featuring the imperial crest.

The_new designs also_included Latin letters for the_denomination,_a_trend which has been generally followed since, and a chrysanthemum,_which was_on every Japanese_stamp until 1947, in lieu of the actual visage of_the emperor.

In 1876, a long definitive series_was introduced, with