| JAPANESE DATES |
| Note on Japanese dates in cancels | |
| Dates are stated with the month in the centre, as in 1March 1988 or 1988.3.1. or Showa 63.3.1 | |
| The following chart provides details of the years likely to be encountered on material relating to the XIIth Olympiad. | |
| Showa 8 = 1933 | Showa 13 = 1938 |
| Showa 9 = 1934 | Showa 14 = 1939 |
| Showa 10 = 1935 | Showa 15 = 1940 |
| Showa 11 = 1936 | Showa 16 = 1941 |
| Showa 12 = 1937 | Showa 17 = 1942 |
| More information on the Japanese era calender may be obtained at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_era |