Issue: Japan Sow Power Station Plant (Shikanosuke Oka) 1981 Stamp
Type: Stamp
Number of Stamps: 1
Stamps Denomination: 60 ¥,
Issue Date: 1981
Issued By: Japan Post NIPPON
Snow Power Station in Winter
Japan issued this 60 yen stamp on 26 February 1981 as the ninth issue in the Modern Japanese Art Series. The design reproduces Snow Power Station by painter Shikanosuke Oka. The scene shows a hydroelectric facility beneath a snowy mountain. A quiet settlement stands among winter trees while utility poles lead the eye toward the building. Blue tones dominate the sky and distant slopes while warmer shades appear around the structure. This contrast creates a peaceful atmosphere. The artwork presents nature and industry together without making either side overpower the other. It also introduces collectors to a Japanese painter through an everyday postal item. The vertical Japanese inscription identifies the featured artwork and artist.
Artwork by Shikanosuke Oka
Shikanosuke Oka was known for structured landscapes and a distinctive style influenced by European painting. Snow Power Station was created in 1968 and depicts a hydroelectric station located at the foot of a landscape in Nagano Prefecture. The original painting combines architecture with winter scenery in a balanced composition. On the stamp the snowy mountain rises behind the facility while dark evergreen trees frame the lower area. Electric poles add strong vertical lines and suggest the practical purpose of the building. The surrounding white ground gives the picture a seasonal character. Meanwhile the warm facade provides a gentle focal point. These details make the small design feel spacious and atmospheric.
A Fine Japanese Art Stamp
This issue is valuable because it connects Japanese postal history with fine art and national scenery. The 60 yen denomination was appropriate for postal use during its period and the release formed part of a series devoted to modern Japanese paintings. Japan printed 26 million copies of this design. Its catalogue number is 828 in the Japanese Stamp Catalogue. The stamp measures approximately 36.5 by 48 millimetres and was printed in sheets of twenty. The subject offers several collecting themes including art mountains winter landscapes architecture and electricity. Oka’s painting gives the issue a calm character that differs from stamps centered on people or major ceremonies. For collectors interested in Japanese culture this example provides a compact record of artistic heritage and scenic identity.