Newbie - How To Acquire New US Issue On Day Of Release?

Hi everyone. I am a casual collector of stamps from Japan. On April 10th, the United States is releasing an awesome set commemorating 100 years since the US sent Japan Dogwoods as a return gift for Japan's Cherry Blossoms from three years earlier. It would go great with my collection.

The stamp is having a ceremony in Washington, DC on April 10th at 11 AM. I live in DC, so I was super excited to hear that maybe I could make this ceremony. But unfortunately, I will be teaching a class at that hour and will have to miss the ceremony.

Given that this is a set that "releases" in Washington, DC, does this mean that I can expect all USPS locations in the DC area to have the stamp? I have never tried to purchase stamps on the day of release before, so I am unsure if I will be out of luck unless I go to the actual ceremony.

Thank you in advance for the help.

All USPS locations nationwide should have the stamp on the first day of issue (April 10, 2015) ... READ SECOND PARAGRAPH at the link below:

http://about.usps.com/postal-bullet...info_006.htm

I qualify my comment by the word "should" as some post offices may not have the stamps for sale immediately, depending on how efficient the local post office may be in providing stock to their window clerks.

I typically have better luck finding the stamps on the first day of issue at smaller post offices than larger ones.

Nevertheless the stamps are automatically distributed nationwide in anticipation of an April 10, 2015 release date.

There is a philatelic office, unusual for USPS locations, at the National Postal Museum next to Union Station in DC. It's on the lower level next door to the post office at that location. Why don't you give them a call, or stop in before April 10?

If anyone knows an English language service from which I can order the Japanese issue online from the JPO, I would like to hear.