Thanks for this story, Mark. As a former mail artist and zine maker who used to send out letters and postcards and other stuff practically every day, it is very sad news.
To make matters worse, posting something has increasingly become a hassle. More bureaucracy, more forms to fill out. If I want to send printed matter abroad, now I'm supposed to enter my data online first. It's like they are trying to discourage people from using the postal service.
Seems to me that the PO's days of delivering letters/documents/information are numbered. Hasn't that service been obsolescent since the internet was made available to civilians? A long, slow death. Packages/parcels are handled well already by the logistics sector. From the customer's point of view, privatization was probably a mistake - and probably from the private shareholders' point of view also. They invested in a sunset corporation?
IIRC, in 2023, I went into a post office once only. It was like walking into the 1970s; but of course the counter staff were both charming and obliging.
Thanks Mark. I’m curious that you mention, “...the first operating deficit since privatization in 2007.” If was privatized, then why does Japan Post have to ask the center government for approval to raise rate? Thanks!
Thanks for this story, Mark. As a former mail artist and zine maker who used to send out letters and postcards and other stuff practically every day, it is very sad news.
To make matters worse, posting something has increasingly become a hassle. More bureaucracy, more forms to fill out. If I want to send printed matter abroad, now I'm supposed to enter my data online first. It's like they are trying to discourage people from using the postal service.
Seems to me that the PO's days of delivering letters/documents/information are numbered. Hasn't that service been obsolescent since the internet was made available to civilians? A long, slow death. Packages/parcels are handled well already by the logistics sector. From the customer's point of view, privatization was probably a mistake - and probably from the private shareholders' point of view also. They invested in a sunset corporation?
IIRC, in 2023, I went into a post office once only. It was like walking into the 1970s; but of course the counter staff were both charming and obliging.
Thanks Mark. I’m curious that you mention, “...the first operating deficit since privatization in 2007.” If was privatized, then why does Japan Post have to ask the center government for approval to raise rate? Thanks!