Stamp rally information

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A stamp rally (スタンプラリー) 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.^[1] The popularity of stamp rallies in Japan started with the phenomenon of the eki stamp.^[2] The distinction is that stamp rallies usually follow a certain theme and are 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 are often organized by tourist associations in local cities. There are also some people who do not intentionally participate in rallies to receive any special benefits, rather engaging 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.^[3][4]

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.^[2][5] 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.^[6] This way, visiting each station of the rally is required to view all the layers of the stamp.

JR, 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 often 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 are especially popular. Some stamp rallies, such as 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^[7][8] and Edomae Elf.^[9]