Japan's postal agency has rejected a request to issue postage stamps in packages containing photos of islets claimed by both Tokyo and Seoul over fears it could trigger a dispute with South Korea, officials said Friday.
An unidentified man ordered 100,000 stamps worth 10 million yen. The order involved the production of 10,000 sheets decorated with the buyer's photo of the island, called Takeshima in Japan and Tok-do in South Korea.
The dispute over the isles heated up earlier this year when South Korea issued stamps depicting birds and flowers native to the islands, ignoring Japanese protests. The stamps, titled "The Nature of Tok-do," went on sale Jan. 16.
Japan Post rejected the man's order because the requested motif -- featuring the buyer's own photographs -- could trigger a dispute, a spokesman said on condition of anonymity.
In June, Japan Post began a campaign that allowed buyers to request customized designs to decorate the sheet the stamps are placed on. The stamps themselves cannot be customized. (Associated Press)