Japan Post Co. is considering scaling back some of its services as its mail business continues to run at a loss. The Mainichi Shimbun answers some common questions readers may have about the possible change and its background.

Question: I sent my teacher a summer greeting card for my summer vacation homework. Do adults still send them, too?

Answer: Unfortunately, fewer people are sending traditional summer greeting cards and New Year's cards, with many opting instead for email or social media for seasonal greetings. Along with digitalization, population decline has also reduced the number of people using postal services. The number of items sent through the mail has fallen to less than half its 2001 peak.

Q: Can Japan Post survive like that?

A: Japan Post's mail business has been in the red since fiscal 2022 and relies in part on support grants from Japan Post Bank Co. and Japan Post Insurance Co., which are part of the same corporate group. Labor costs, which account for more than 70% of operating expenses, are also on the rise. Without changes, the postal service is expected to remain in the red.

The revised Postal Services Privatization Act, enacted in June, will provide about 65 billion yen (about $420 million) a year as additional support grants, while also requiring the national government to explore measures to make the postal business more sustainable. A panel of experts established by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications in August is now considering a range of options, including reducing the level of postal services. The panel is expected to draw up its recommendations by as early as the summer of 2027.

Q: Does that mean postal services will get worse?

A: Whether to reduce the frequency of mail deliveries or cut the number of mailboxes, of which there are about 180,000 nationwide, is expected to become the focus of discussion. As current service standards are stipulated under Japan's Postal Act and other regulations, implementing some of the changes could ultimately require amendments to the law.

Q: I would not want postal services to become less convenient. But is there really a choice?

A: Countries around the world are rethinking postal services as demand for traditional mail declines. According to a summary by the communications ministry, Britain has decided to shift deliveries of lower-cost mail from six days a week to every other weekday. Some countries, such as Denmark, have abolished the requirement to provide postal delivery nationwide as a uniform "universal service." Japan, however, intends to maintain its postal system as a universal service, meaning basic postal services will continue to be available across the country. It would be good if a conclusion can be reached that everyone can accept.

(Japanese original by Toru Watanabe, Business News Department)