切手
きって
kitte
= postage stamp
切手 (kitte) is the Japanese word for a postage stamp — the small adhesive label you press onto a letter or postcard before dropping it in the mailbox. Its name carries a surprisingly rich history: it literally means “cut hand-document,” a reference to the torn vouchers once used as proof of payment in Edo-period commerce.
切手 refers specifically to a postage stamp issued by Japan Post (日本郵便). To attach a stamp, Japanese speakers use the verb 貼る (haru, “to stick/affix”): 切手を貼る. It pairs naturally with 封筒 (fūtō, envelope) and はがき (hagaki, postcard). Unlike English, where “stamp” can mean both a postage stamp and a rubber ink stamp (ハンコ / スタンプ in Japanese), 切手 is used exclusively for postal stamps — you would never use it for a date stamp or an office seal.
The most common mistake for learners is confusing 切手 with スタンプ or ハンコ. In Japanese, スタンプ can mean an ink stamp (as used in passport control or a loyalty card), while ハンコ is a personal name seal used on official documents. 切手 is only ever a postage stamp. Also note that Japan Post sells stamps in face values such as 84円 (standard letter) and 63円 (standard postcard), so when asking at the post office you often say 「84円切手を2枚ください」 — specifying the denomination is expected.
切手 is written with two kanji: 切 (kiru, “to cut”) and 手 (te, “hand” or, historically, “document/voucher”). In the Edo period, 手形 (tegata) were negotiable paper documents; a portion was cut off as a receipt or token of payment. When Japan introduced its modern postal system in 1871, this concept of a “cut voucher” was adapted to name the new prepaid stamps — 切手.
Everyday use
この封筒に84円切手を貼るのを忘れないでね。
Kono fūtō ni hachijūyon-en kitte wo haru no wo wasurenai de ne.
Don’t forget to put an 84-yen stamp on this envelope.
Casual / Social Media
最近、桜の記念切手を集め始めた。インスタに載せたらたくさんいいねが来た！
Saikin, sakura no kinen-kitte wo atsume hajimeta. Insuta ni noseta ra takusan iine ga kita!
I recently started collecting cherry-blossom commemorative stamps. I posted them on Instagram and got so many likes!
Formal / Cultural context
すみません、国際郵便用の切手はどれになりますか？
Sumimasen, kokusai yūbin-yō no kitte wa dore ni narimasu ka?
Excuse me, which stamp should I use for international mail?
Japan has one of the world’s most celebrated traditions of commemorative stamps (記念切手, kinen-kitte). Japan Post releases limited-edition series throughout the year tied to seasons, national events, and popular culture — spring brings cherry-blossom designs, summer features fireworks and regional festivals, and winter showcases New Year’s motifs. These limited runs sell out quickly at post offices and are treasured as miniature works of art, with some series designed by prominent illustrators.
Stamp collecting — known in Japanese as 切手趣味 (kitte shumi) or 郵趣 (yūshu) — has a long history in Japan dating back to the Meiji era. Collectors seek out pre-war imperial-era stamps, wartime overprints, and early post-occupation issues as historically significant artifacts. The Japan Philatelic Society (日本郵趣協会) organizes exhibitions and maintains catalogues, keeping the hobby active across generations. For many collectors, 切手 are not just postal tools but tangible records of Japan’s modern history.
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