The stamp of approval: Decision-making processes and policies in Japan and the UK

Abstract

As mentioned in the introduction to this special edition, tracing the stamp design decision-making process in a totalitarian state is a relatively uncomplicated business because of the concentration of power and the obvious political messages emanating from the regime. Democracies are more difficult. In the case of stamp design, although the agencies for the creation and dis/approval of stamp design are clearly identifiable (usually skilled graphic designers working hand in hand with a stamp advisory committee representative of both government and society), hidden processes and other 'gatekeepers' only make themselves known on rare occasions. 1 This article focuses upon these occasions in order to trace the decision-making process and identify the influential actors in both Japan and the UK. Japan and the UK demonstrate a number of socio-political similarities and differences that allow for an interesting comparison and contrast of their stamp issuing policies. On the one hand, the comparative clich6s that are regularly and lazily cited point to the fact that both are democracies with constitutional monarchies, island nations bordering continents towards which they have ambivalent feelings owing to historical legacies, and both proudly claim to uphold a 'special relationship' with the US. However, on the other hand, they also demonstrate substantial differences: the UK was an early-starter economy, whereas Japan was a late-starter; the UK has a longer tradition of representative democracy, whereas in the case of Japan democracy was seen as a postwar 'gift from the gods'; the UK's democracy is a two-party system, whereas Japan has sought but never achieved this parity; and unlike Japan's relationship with Asia, the UK's relationship with Europe is not marred by a history of 'civilising' imperialism? Many of these stereotypes and characteristics have been manifested on the themes and designs of definitive and commemorative stamps in each country. However, as touched upon in Dean and Dobson's