Starting October 1st, the price of a standard size letter stamp (up to 25 grams) will go up from 84 yen to 110 yen, letters between 25 and 50 will increase from 94 yen to 110 yen, and post cards will rise from 63 yen to 85 yen, in addition to other postage rate hikes. Except for adjustments related to consumption tax increases, this will be the first rate hike for letters in 30 years.
Japan Post reports this rate hike is due to fewer deliveries. Mail deliveries have decreased since their peak in 2001, and, in addition to fewer deliveries, Japan post needs to secure funds to cover rising labor costs and fuel.
I wonder what this will do to the tradition of sending new year post cards (nengajo) in Japan. Many people have already stopped doing it, due to the cost of sending them or the ease of sending electronic mail.
While I hate to pay more to send things, I understand the cost of everything is going up.
What do domestic stamps cost where you live? Do you send many letters or post cards?
I like your cat stamps. In the USA postage stamps went up and also to mail internationally.68 cents domestic letter and about $1.50 international. I still send mail to pen pals in the USA and other countries plus plenty of mail to friends and relatives. I get a LOT of mail, requests to give money to organizations. Do you get that in Japan?
ReplyDeleteHere, too. I love all the stamps you shared. Well, many ARE cats!
ReplyDeleteI understand the postage has to go up but accept to pay what it costs to send birthday cards. As for sending letters, only a few people use snail mail to answer my letters - most friends reply by sending an email instead. One reason must be that the postage in Sweden is exceptionally high, double or even triple of the Japanese rates.
ReplyDeleteI miss handwritten letters and envelopes with pretty stamps.
Rates have gone up here too in Australia, $1.50 for a local letter and $3.20 (I think) for a postcard, I used to send a lot of postcards but it is too expensive now. The postal service here says they have to raise the prices as there is not much mail to deliver anymore, which makes it too expensive for people to use - no win situation. I do like the cat stamps.
ReplyDeleteWe've had several increases in the price of stamps over the last couple years. German post was just forbidden to increase prices again this year, so they announced they'd have to lower the quality of service, instead.
ReplyDeleteCurrently, a standard letter is 85ct and a post card is 70ct.
Japan has been gradually raising postal charges over the past few years. However, I thought the price increase in October of this year was a bold one. I was surprised at the fairy large price increase.
ReplyDeleteBut I like postal culture, so I think I'll continue to send letters and postcards.😊