A big envelope arrived yesterday from my friend in the Ayaori post office in Tono, my favorite place in Japan, where I lived for about 10 years. When I saw what was inside, I started whooping. These are the best stamps ever. They commemorate the Tono monogatari, a seminal work of folklore that made Tono famous. Each stamp is something personal to me as well. A huge shout-out to Uchida Kahoku in the Ayaori post office! Can't say thanks enough for this fabulous surprise.
