Golden Mailboxes

Beginning in 2021, Japan Post started replacing some of the normal red mailboxes with gold colored ones to honor local athletes who have taken gold medals at the Olympic or Paralympic games. 

The mailbox above, near JR Gotanda Station in Tokyo, recognizes Naohisa Makato, winner of the gold medal in the men’s 60 kilogram judo event in 2021. 

The mailbox below, at Shimizu Station in Shizuoka, honors gold medalist Suguru  Iwazaki, 2020 baseball team member.

I really like this project!

No Live Reptiles in the Mail

Japan Post does not allow mammals or birds to be sent by mail, and starting April 1st, live reptiles will also not be accepted for mailing, on animal welfare grounds. Customers had raised concerns and animal rights activists criticized the service online. With temperature control and food unavailable, it is considered animal abuse. 

I had no idea that reptiles were allowed to be sent through the mail.  I’m glad the practice will soon be prohibited. I’m curious to know if it is allowed in other countries.

Japanese Domestic Postage Rates Going Up

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?

Packages to the United States

This year there are some changes for packages from Japan to the US.  As of January 1, 2021, packages with handwritten labels are no longer allowed under the US STOP Act. The Synthetics Trafficking and Overdose Prevention (STOP) Act is a US Federal law about counterterrorism and control of drugs.  It requires customs data on postal items to be sent to US Customs in advance. 

What does that mean for people in Japan who want to send packages to the United States? It means we have to use the International My Page Service to send Electronic Advance Data (EAD)  and to create a label. The data sent includes the sender's name and address, the recipient's name and address, names of contents, gross weight, and number of items. 

I have not tried to use this system yet, but Cynthia, who blogs at wabi-sabiquilts.blogspot.com wrote that it is a "nothing is easy" experience. 

Another Japan Post change is that International Postage Rates will be going up on April 1, 2021. The last time these rates were revised was March 1996. The United States will become its own zone (Zone 4) and will see the largest increases.

Japan Post to End Saturday Delivery Next Year

I think the Japanese postal service is great. It's not so expensive. The items I receive are intact and not damaged.  If a package can't be delivered because I'm not home, I get a notice and can schedule redelivery for a later time online.  That's right - I don't have to go to the post office to pick it up.  The employees at the post office are always friendly and helpful. 

I love getting real mail. I always have.  I don't get much here, but I do love it.

Because of a labor shortage in Japan, the Japan Post has announced that it will discontinue regular Saturday delivery sometime next year. Saturday delivery for packages, along with express and registered mail will continue. 

What is the postal service like where you live? Is mail delivered on Saturday?  Are employees friendly and helpful?