Description:

This collectible promotional phone card commemorates the 13th Annual Black Ships Festival held in 1996 from July 18 to 21 in Newport, Rhode Island. The card features imagery representing traditional Japanese culture, including sumo wrestlers in a match, a martial artist performing a stance, and a drummer playing a taiko drum. At the center is a depiction of a large ceremonial gong with Japanese characters on it, symbolizing the festival's cultural theme.

At the bottom of the card, logos for Kirin Brewery Company Limited and Northwest Airlines appear prominently. The Kirin Brewery logo includes a black Kirin mythical creature and the text "Kirin Brewery." The Northwest Airlines logo is the classic "N" emblem with the accompanying slogan "Some People Just Know How to Fly®." Additional text on the card states "Experience a Taste of the Orient" and notes the involvement of the Japan-America Society alongside the Black Ships Festival of Rhode Island.

The card’s design uses bold red and yellow colors for text and border, emphasizing the event’s date and location. The artwork highlights martial arts, sumo wrestling, and music drumming as central cultural components of the festival, celebrating Japanese heritage within the context of the Rhode Island community event. This card was issued by HT Technologies as a promotional item tied to the Kirin Beer sponsorship during the festival in July 1996.

Since we have the world's largest inventory of USA phonecards for collectors, you will not necessarily receive the identical serial/batch/PIN number that we have scanned/pictured.