Despite the impact of COVID-19, PHILANIPPON 2021 was held at the PACIFICO Yokohama Exhibition Hall from 25 to 30 August as scheduled, and its rich exhibits were well received by visitors.

In view of the continuing severity of COVID-19, the International Federation of Philately (hereinafter referred to as FIP) decided to change PHILANIPPON 2021 into the 37th Asian International Stamp Exhibition. Japan had been preparing for PHILANIPPON 2021 for several years and issued a special stamp in 2020 for this purpose. Therefore, FIP decided to keep the original name of PHILANIPPON 2021 despite the change.

The content of the exhibition is extra rich, including the special exhibits of 150th anniversary of Japan Post. 8 big stamp companies of Japan set up booths, and posts from Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, Macao China, Portugal, Liechtenstein, Slovenia, and United Nations Postal Administration are also invited to set up booths. In addition to exhibitions of competitive classes and non-competitive class, a press conference of creative design competition for Japanese primary school students is also held.

Precious stamps of the Japanese royal family from collectors are on display in the exhibition. Stalls are set up for sponsors such as stationery and paper companies. Popular Pokemon stamps and gift boxes are on sale at the booth of Japanese animation Pokemon. There is a post office experience corner to provide various services for the visitors. In order to encourage people to better understand and visit the exhibition, the organizers hold live quick Q&A shows about postal services and postal exhibitions to increase interaction. Visitors can participate in the show, provide right answers, and win corresponding souvenirs through a lucky draw. Due to the COVID-19, the main visitors are Japanese stamp collectors, while Chinese and overseas stamp collectors and postal traders are unable to go to the exhibition site. Although the All-China Philatelic Federation cannot send personnel to participate, it selects and sends 9 pieces of philatelic literature to the exhibition.

Apart from a set of 10 commemorative stamps for "PHILANIPPON 2021" issued on the opening day, a different commemorative postmark is used for each theme day. The competitive exhibits consist of 11 classes, namely traditional philately, postal history, postal stationery, aerophilately, thematic philately, modern philately, revenue, open philately, one frame exhibit, youth philately and philatelic literature — a total of 94 exhibits including 552 frames and 76 pieces of philatelic literature, of which 9 literature exhibits are from China.