What you are looking at here is a first-day-of-issue post card. There is also such a thing as a first-day-cover but that, I believe is an envelope featuring a stamp or stamps as well as some additional art work.
The post-card is post-dated Oct 15, 1958 and was released on the occasion of the restoration of the Shurei-mon (守礼門 or 守禮門) of Shuri Castle. A fine occasion if you ask me.
In my mind at least, I’d expect to see a glue-backed, perforated-paper stamp. Instead, the stamps are ink… stamps.
This gate is quite the symbol of Okinawa, even making it onto the very rarely-seen 2,000 yen note. I think you’ll agree that the style of the gate differs greatly from the castle gates of Japan’s main archipelago.
There is a strong Chinese influence. In fact, it is styled after the Chinese, Paifang gate. Perhaps unsurprising given Okinawa’s cultural ties & proximity to the Chinese mainland.
Let’s have a closer look at this gate, there’s something missing….. Doors! Okay, so its purpose isn’t to keep people out. Instead it is simply an entrance – a novel concept.
Written on a placard between the twin roofs (and on the red stamp) is 守禮之邦 (Shurei no kuni), a message reminding the people of Okinawa to maintain their traditional ways.
