The Shirase once again acted as the flagship for the 47th Japanese Antarctic Expedition (JARE 47) departing Japan in late 2005 for Fremantle in Western Australia then to Shoywa Base in the Antarctic and finally around Australia to Sydney and then home to Japan.

Several different cachets were used by the vessel on this expedition and these are offered below all on cover or postcard.

Covers from previous Shirase expeditions can be seen here

Note whil;e the above envelope has been postmarked on board the Shirase on the 3rd of February, 2006 while the icebreaker was in the Antarctic, it was carried all the way back to Tokyo before being transferred into the International Mail. Backstamped on arrival in Christchurch 15 May, 2006.

Note: The above envelope is similar to the previous one but it has a different cachet showing the icebreaker itself.

The cachet on this cover is different again.

Once again a different Jare 47 cachet.

The Shirase called into Sydney on the 21st of March and stayed for a few days with scientists taking advantage of the chance to fly home and the Shirase crew the chance for a holiday in Sydney. The "Shirase" docked at the Australian Navy Base at Garden Island where the envelope is postmarked with the pictorial ship postmark.

The above cover features the Shirase's Aurora helicopter flight. This is the last season that the Shirase will use the veteran Westland helicopters with new aircraft scheduled for use next season.

Note: This cover is similar to the previous one but it has two ships cachets on it.