Joint Issues : India - Japan

Stamp Design/Theme: Classic Dances, Kathakali from India and Kabuki from Japan.
Occasion: 50th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Japan.

India:
Issue Date: 26.04.2002
Setenant Pair, Miniature Sheet, Sheetlet
Denomination: Rs. 15 each, Sheetlet Rs. 240

Japan
Issue Date: 12.04.2002
Single Stamp
Denomination: 80 JPY
Note: It seems that Japan has not issued stamps with same design as per general norms of joint issues but have issued single stamp depicting Tajmahal with inscription 'Japan - India 50th Anniversary'.

Kathakali is a highly stylized classical Indian dance-drama noted for the attractive make-up of characters, elaborate costumes, detailed gestures and well-defined body movements presented in tune with the anchor playback music and complementary percussion. It originated in the country's present day state of Kerala during the 17th century and has developed over the years with improved looks, refined gestures and added themes besides more ornate singing and precise drumming.

Kabuki is a traditional Japanese popular dance-drama with singing and dancing performed in a highly stylized manner. Kabuki is a rich blend of music, dance, mime, and spectacular staging and costuming, it has been a major theatrical form in Japan for almost four centuries.Kabuki theatre is known for the stylization of its drama and for the elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers. Kabuki is sometimes translated as 'the art of singing and dancing'. The history of kabuki began in 1603 when Izumo no Okuni, possibly a miko of Izumo Taisha, began performing a new style of dance drama in the dry riverbeds of Kyoto.

Remarks: Japan has also issued 3 other stamps on 12.04.2002 to mark 'Japan - Pakistan 50th Anniversary', Japan - Srilanka 50th Anniversary' and 'Japan - Bangladesh 30th Anniversary'. This series has been titled as 'Japan and South Asia in the 21st Century'.