Year of Pig from Japan

A cover from Japan with the year of pig stamp ! 

The Pig (豬) is the twelfth of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar. In the continuous sexagenary cycle, every twelfth year corresponds to hai, and is commonly called the "Year of the Pig" 豬. There are five types of Pigs, named after the Chinese elements. In order, they are: Metal, Water, Wood, Fire, and Earth.

In the Japanese zodiac and the Tibetan zodiac, the Pig is replaced by the boar. In the Dai zodiac, the Pig is replaced by the elephant. In the Gurung zodiac, the Pig is replaced by the deer.

So I guess the stamp represents a boar! 

Another cover with the first day cancellation showing a boar too !! 

The first cover is from Achi, Nagano prefecture and the second cover is from Susono, Shizuoka prefecture. 

Japan has 47 prefectures - the first level judicial and administrative division. 

Thanks Chisako for both the covers ! 

Let’s see how many Pig stamps I get to collect this year :)