The Ichijodani Asakura Family Historic Ruins — a castle town of the Sengoku era.
Walk its stone-paved lanes and you can feel the breath of history — and now a cast of humorous yokai has appeared here too.
On 8 August, the “Yokai of the Sengoku Castle Town” original frame stamps made their colourful debut. Devised by Creative ASUWA, which is working towards World Heritage inscription for the ruins, and sold by Japan Post’s Hokuriku Branch, the stamps bring together the history of Fukui and the culture of yokai.
Yokai on the stage of history
Each sheet costs 1,100 yen and contains five 110-yen stamps, featuring five characterful yokai connected with the Ichijodani Asakura Family Historic Ruins. Hesokuri, for instance, takes its motif from old coins excavated at the site and appears as a mischievous yokai guarding the Asakura family’s treasure. There is also the graceful Hanamaru, inspired by cherry blossom, and Kameko, born from a dyer’s jar — designs that draw on the history and culture of Ichijodani.
You can read more about the yokai on the page below.
These yokai were created by the Fukui-born artist Cain Nishino as part of the Yokai Castle Town Project run by Creative ASUWA. The project is a distinctive undertaking that reimagines the yokai culture brought from Kyoto in the Sengoku era through the eyes of the ordinary people of Ichijodani. Blending history with humour, the characters offer visitors a fresh way of looking at what makes Ichijodani special.
Enjoying the story of Ichijodani through stamps
The original frame stamps are on sale at every post office in Awara, Sakai, Katsuyama and Ono and in the town of Eiheiji, and at selected post offices in Fukui City — 62 branches in all. From 15 August they will also be available from the official Japan Post website. They will appeal to collectors, of course, but equally to anyone with an interest in history or in yokai.
Discovering a new side of Ichijodani
A Sengoku castle town as the setting, and a cast of humorous yokai weaving their stories through it. Why not use these stamps as a way in to the deep history and culture of the Ichijodani Asakura Family Historic Ruins? Seen from the yokai’s own unique angle, the life and character of the Sengoku era become a pleasure to explore, and the appeal of Fukui comes into view all over again. Do pick up a sheet and let yourself be drawn into their world.