Japan Post starts selling New Year’s postcards accross the country

November 1, 2017

TOKYO- Japan Post Co. started selling New Year's lottery postcards for 2018 across the country on Wednesday, as their number fell to a record low amid the popularity of emails and social media.

The initial number of New Year's lottery postcards issued for 2018 fell 9.3 pct from the previous year to 2,586 million, the lowest level since comparable data became available in 2004.

A launch event was held at a post office in central Tokyo, joined by guests such as Masaki Aiba, a member of male pop group Arashi, and Homare Sawa, a former member of the Japanese women's national soccer team.

In June this year, the unit of Japan Post Holdings Co. <6178> raised its charge for standard postcards by 10 yen to 62 yen.

But the company kept the rate for New Year's greeting cards unchanged at 52 yen for a posting period between Dec. 15 and Jan. 7.

Japan Post is also strengthening a service that allows users to send New Year's postcards using social media in an effort to boost their sales. Jiji Press