1960 4c United States and Japan Treaty

U.S. #1158
4¢ U.S. Japan Treaty
Issue Date: September 28, 1960
City: Washington, D.C.
Quantity: 125,010,000
Printed by: Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Printing Method: Giori Press
Perforations: 11
Color: Blue and pink

U.S. #1158 commemorates the 100th anniversary of the first treaty promoting mutual understanding and goodwill between the U.S. and Japan. The stamp pictures the Washington Monument and Japanese cherry blossoms.

On September 28, 1960, the United States Postal Service issued this elegant 4-cent commemorative stamp marking the 100th anniversary of the formal diplomatic and trade relationship between the United States and Japan. The treaty being celebrated was the Treaty of Amity and Commerce of 1860, which built upon Commodore Matthew Perry's historic mission of 1853-54 and established full diplomatic ties between the two nations. The stamp was printed in a striking two-color design — blue and red — featuring the Washington Monument rising prominently above swirling water, symbolizing the American capital and its role in fostering international relations.

The design beautifully pairs the Washington Monument with blooming cherry blossoms, a nod to the beloved Japanese cherry trees gifted to Washington, D.C. by the city of Tokyo in 1912 — themselves a lasting symbol of friendship between the two nations. The vertical inscription "United States • Japan" and the dates "1860–1960" frame the composition with quiet elegance. Interestingly, this stamp makes a natural companion to Scott #1021, the 1953 Commodore Perry commemorative, as both stamps celebrate milestones in the same remarkable diplomatic story — the opening of Japan and the century of friendship that followed.