Stamp rally


A stamp rally is an event or course dedicated to collecting stamps that follow a certain theme at sites such as train stations, rest areas, tourist attractions, museums, zoos, onsen towns, shopping malls, and other locations. The popularity of stamp rallies in Japan started with the phenomenon of eki stamps. The distinction is that stamp rallies usually follow a certain theme and only appear for a limited time, in contrast to standard eki stamps bearing the likeness of a station, which are usually available forever, or until they are redesigned. The term "stamp rally" is a wasei-eigo invention.
In addition to rallies organized by chain stores, railroad companies, or travel agencies, rallies can also be organized by tourist associations in local cities. Some people do not participate in rallies to receive special benefits or prizes, but rather engage with stamps as a personal hobby, stamping their own stamp books as they find them wherever they go, regardless of the type. Some stamp rallies focus on historic sites, such as the Japan Castle Foundation's "100 Famous Castles in Japan", which has included a stamp rally since 2007.
Like the eki stamp, stamp rallies replicate a history inherited from the shuin stamps provided at sacred sites like Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, especially on the routes of pilgrimages. Stamp rallies have some conceptual commonalities with the long-running Passport to Your National Parks campaign in the United States.
In some cases, rather than filling a book with each stamp in a dedicated box, a stamp rally might be designed to encourage layering color-separated stamps over the same spot with different colors of ink to give a similar effect to screen printing with multiple plates. This way, visiting each station of the rally is required to view all the layers of the stamp. Stamps of this type are known in Japanese as 2=重ね捺しスタンプ and are often manufactured by the company Shachihata.
Japan Railways, major private railway and subway companies, and bus companies sometimes hold stamp rallies during spring, summer, and winter vacations. Stamp rallies conducted in collaboration with various media properties are also held, such as television dramas, films, anime, and video games. Many are themed around mascot characters. Stamp rally tie-ins for children's anime series, such as Anpanman, are especially popular. Some stamp rallies, such as those at roadside stations, are held throughout the year.
Often, stamp rallies conducted in collaboration with anime or television series set in contemporary Japan focus on the many types of landmark locations featured in the work, rather than working with singular private transportation companies or chain businesses. These can be seen as public–private collaborations with local municipal governments, film associations, chambers of commerce, shopping streets, or tourism associations as a means of encouraging and rewarding seichi junrei, rather than corporate partnerships. Some recent examples include the third season of Laid-Back Camp and Edomae Elf.

Railways

Pokémon

East Japan Rail Company (JR East) tie-ins

Since 1997 East Japan Railway Company has been conducting an annual project to place stamps of characters and creatures from the Pokémon franchise at major stations in the Tokyo metropolitan area during the summer vacation period of elementary and junior high school students. In some years, participants could win limited-edition trading cards.
In 1997, stamps were placed at 30 stations in the Tokyo metropolitan area, and from 1998, at a dozen stations on the Yamanote Line. In 2003, the number was expanded to 83 stations, including those covered by the "Holiday Pass". In 2005, 100 stamps were placed at 97 stations, and long lines formed every day at stations with stamps of popular characters. Since 2004, two of the stamps have been placed at Tokyo Monorail stations, a member of the JR East Group. In 2011, due to the Great East Japan Earthquake, the "Pokemon B&W Stamp Rally" was reduced to a simple rally in which participants could choose one of 12 stations along two courses on the Yamanote Line and collect stamps at six stations. In 2013, the scope was expanded again to include the "Holiday Outing Pass", and the installation of stamps at Tokyo Monorail stations resumed. In 2017, the number was increased to 50 stations, and in 2018 to 55 stations. In 2023, in commemoration of the Pokémon World Championships held in Yokohama, the "JR East Pokémon World Championships 2023 Stamp Rally" was held. The "Metropolitan Area Course" included stamps from 10 stations within the scope of the "Holiday Pass" and "Nombiri Holiday Suica Pass," while the "Shinkansen Course" included stamps from only one of five designated Shinkansen stations in the Tōhoku, Jōetsu, and Hokuriku regions.
From 1997 to 2000 participation was based on an advance application system. Since 1998, the rally has been held on Saturdays and Sundays, and the number of participants has been limited. Since 2003, the rally has been open to all participants and requires a ticket to each station, a free train ticket, and a Suica. From 2006 to 2010, Summer Vacation Timetable: Pokemon Stamp Rally Special Edition was published by Kotsu Shinbunsha and served as the official guidebook for the rally, and was commonly known as the "Pokemon Timetable". In 2019, stamp books was distributed at all stations where stamps were installed to collect all the stamps.
In 2005 the stamps at stations alternated between even-numbered days and odd-numbered days, a behavior that was replicated in the 2015 rally. For example, Lombre was available on even-numbered days in 2005, and Snorlax on odd-numbered days; Chespin was available on even days in 2015, and Chesnaught on the odd days.
In 1998 and 1999 the stamps of the characters were installed, and in 2019 they were installed for the first time in 20 years.
From 2006 to 2010 and 2012 to 2015 some stations were secret stations, where the Pokémon was not identified at all until the stamp was placed. In 2015, the station where the stamp was placed was also a secret.
In 1997 the first year of the stamp rally, participants collected stamps of all 30 stations in the Tokyo metropolitan area in less than two days. Until 2010, the prize is exchanged at Tokyo, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Shinagawa, Ueno, and Matsudo stations at the end of the stamp rally. In 2013, a souvenir and a certificate of achievement were distributed, followed by a certificate of achievement with a different design for each of the six stations when the stamps of the remaining stations were collected. In 2015, a certificate of achievement was distributed for each of the remaining stations. In 2017, a souvenir for each area achieved was distributed for each of the remaining stations, and a souvenir that also served as a certificate of achievement was distributed for all stations achieved. In 2018 and 2019, a souvenir that also served as a certificate of achievement was distributed for each of the remaining stations achieved afterwards. In 2011–2015, only Shinjuku and Ueno Stations exchanged prizes upon completion. In 2017, only 6 stations were completed at 12 designated Ekinka stores in the area, and only Ueno Station exchanged prizes upon completion of the area and all stations. 2018 and 2019, only 6 stations were completed at designated stations in the area. In 2018 and 2019, only 6 stations were completed at NewDays stores in designated stations in the area, and prizes were exchanged only at Tokyo and Ikebukuro stations when all stations were completed.
In conjunction with the stamp rally period, the Yamanote Line operated tie-in "Pokémon trains" in 2000, 2002, 2005, and 2010. The train bodies were covered with Pokémon character stickers, and the ads and LCD screens inside the trains were united with Pokémon-related items. The trains were operated on the Chuo and Sobu Lines in 2004, and on the Tokyo Monorail from 2006 to 2016 and in 2019.
The Sendai area has also hosted the event in 1998 and from 2012 to 2014.

Pokémon stamp rallies conducted by other businesses

Railways
Tourism associations
Convenience stores
Highways
  • Nakanihon Exis – 2008–2009

    Tour format

In addition to regular stamp rallies, JR West also organizes stamp rallies that are combined with travel products, in which the stamps are not at stations on specific lines, but at all locations at specific sightseeing spots. In the past, Naruto, The Kindaichi Case Files, and Detective School Q have been used. Travel products are available through JR West's travel agency, Nippon Travel Agency, as well as JTB, Kinki Nippon Tourist, and JR Shikoku's Warp.File:JRW-500 V2 20160320 TYPE EVA in Himeji.jpg|thumb|The JRW-500 Evangelion bullet train
File:Kinnikuman stamp rally.jpg|thumb|Poster for the East Japan Railway Company 2019 Kinnikuman stamp rally

East Japan Rail Company (JR East)

Apart from Pokémon, JR East has conducted stamp rally tie-ins with several other series.