Photo/Illutration New stamp designs unveiled on July 8, from left: Setonaikai National Park, Nikko National Park and Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park. The black diagonals are to prevent illegal copies. (Provided by Japan Post Co.)

The price of a stamp for a fixed-sized envelope weighing 25 grams at most will cost 84 yen (77 cents), up by 2 yen, from Oct. 1, Japan Post Co. announced July 8.

The fee for a postcard will be raised to 63 yen from 62 yen.

The increases reflect a scheduled rise in October of the consumption tax rate from 8 percent to 10 percent.

Fixed-sized envelopes must be within a range of 23.5 centimeters by 12 cm.

Japan Post also unveiled new designs for stamps and postcards that will go on sale from Aug. 20.

The increase in the cost of a stamp is the first in five and a half years since April 2014 when the consumption tax rate was raised to 8 percent.

Postcard fees will have not risen for two years and four months as of October.

Somei-yoshino cherry blossoms, which feature on the 62-yen stamp, will be retained although the pink background will be slightly deeper.

Japan Post will also release nine other designs including three under the theme of national parks, the first time for the popular scenic spots to feature in postage stamps. They are pricier than the standard rate.

Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park in Okinawa Prefecture, Nikko National Park in Tochigi Prefecture and Setonaikai National Park in the Seto Inland Sea respectively be highlighted on the 210-yen, 290-yen and 320-yen stamps.

About 17.2 billion letters and postcards were mailed in fiscal 2017. The figure keeps dropping each year due to competition from e-mail and other digital communication.

The latest increase in postal rates is expected to accelerate the decrease.