Old Rivals Yamato and Japan Post Join Forces

Feb 16, 2024 | News On Japan

TOKYO - To address the driver shortage crisis, long-standing rivals Yamato Transport and Japan Post have teamed up to tackle Japan's challenging logistical environment known as the "2024 Problem."

Background of the Collaboration: The "Logistics 2024 Problem"

Employees from Yamato Transport are now working alongside post office staff to deliver packages. Yamato Transport has launched "Kuroneko Yu-Mail" this month, where Yamato handles collection, and Japan Post takes care of sorting and delivery.

The collaboration between Yamato Group and Japan Post Group was announced in June last year, driven by the looming "Logistics 2024 Problem." As part of workstyle reforms, truck drivers will face a cap of 960 hours of overtime work annually starting in April. This regulation could reduce the number of packages that can be delivered daily, potentially jeopardizing delivery services. To prevent this, the two logistics giants have formed an alliance.

Interestingly, these two companies have a history of "conflict" over the years. What was the reason for their dispute?

The Reason for the "Conflict": The Issue of "Letter Mail"

Yamato Group and Japan Post Group, now collaborating to tackle the "Logistics 2024 Problem," were once in "conflict" over a particular issue.

Yamato Transport's President at the time, Keiji Yutomi, criticized the monopoly Japan Post held over the delivery of "letter mail," such as letters, postcards, and invoices. In March 2015, Yamato Transport discontinued its Kuroneko Mail Service, which allowed for the delivery of non-letter items like flyers and pamphlets, due to the unclear definition of letter mail and the risk of customers inadvertently breaking the law.

Although the two companies were once in a "conflictual relationship," they chose a mutually beneficial path to solve the "2024 Problem." Yamato Transport can focus its management resources on courier services, while Japan Post can increase its handling volume of postal services, which has been declining.

This collaboration marks a significant shift from rivalry to partnership, as both companies aim to navigate the challenges of the logistics industry together.

Source: ANN

Japan Calls for Next Generation Hunters; Bear Sightings Exceed 50,000

The Japanese government approved its 2026 Environment White Paper at a Cabinet meeting on June 5th, warning that a record-high 50,000-plus bear sightings recorded nationwide during fiscal 2025 have become a serious threat to public safety while also highlighting growing concerns over Japan's aging hunting population and the need to train a new generation of hunters.

28 Typhoons Expected to Hit Japan in 2026

Japan could face a more active typhoon season than usual in 2026, with private weather forecaster Weathernews predicting around 28 typhoons to form during the year—above the long-term average of 25.1—and warning that approximately 14 could approach Japan, increasing the risk of weather-related disruptions across the country.

Mad Bear On The Loose Despite Hit With Tranquilizer

A bear that injured four people in Fukushima City escaped despite efforts to capture it using tranquilizer darts and box traps, prompting authorities to urge residents to remain on high alert.

Typhoon Jangmi Leaves Trail of Destruction Across Japan

Typhoon Jangmi (Typhoon No. 6) swept across Japan on June 3rd, bringing record-breaking rainfall, widespread flooding, landslides, transport disruptions, and powerful winds, while prompting Tokyo's first-ever issuance of a Level 4 danger alert under the country's new weather warning system.

Body Found in River Identified as Suspect in Mother-Daughter Murder Case

A body discovered in a river in Tatsuno, Hyogo Prefecture, has been identified as 42-year-old Kenji Oyama, the suspect wanted nationwide in connection with the murder of a mother and daughter last month, police announced on June 4th.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Business NEWS

Nissan Begins Taking Orders for U.S.-Built Murano SUV in Japan

Nissan Motor has begun accepting orders in Japan for the Murano sport utility vehicle, which is produced in the United States, marking one of the first uses of a new vehicle certification framework established following a tariff agreement between Japan and the United States.

Uber Targets New Users With Ride-Hailing Discounts

Uber Japan unveiled its latest strategy for its mobility business, including its taxi-hailing app operations, as the company seeks to expand its presence in a market where ride-hailing app usage remains lower than in many other countries.

U.S. Proposes 12.5% Additional Tariff on Japan

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced on June 2nd that it is considering imposing an additional 12.5% tariff on Japan, arguing that the country's measures to prevent the import of products made with forced labor are insufficient.

Foreign Workers Become Vital to Okinawa's Economy

As labor shortages deepen across Japan, more companies in Okinawa are turning to foreign workers not only to fill vacancies but also to build long-term careers, creating support systems that help employees settle into local communities and remain in the workforce.

Investors Shift Focus to Quantum Computing Stocks

Quantum computing is attracting growing attention from investors as governments around the world increase support for the technology, raising expectations that it could become the next major investment theme after artificial intelligence.

Toyota to Halt Production at 13 Domestic Plants as Typhoon No. 6 Approaches

Toyota Motor will suspend production at 13 domestic factories on June 3rd as Typhoon No. 6 approaches Japan, with the company prioritizing the safety of employees and contractors as severe weather is expected to affect a wide area from western to eastern Japan.

Japan's Flat 35 Mortgage Rate Tops 3% for First Time

The Japan Housing Finance Agency announced on June 1st the interest rates that will apply in June for Flat 35, Japan’s long-term fixed-rate housing loan program.

Inside ENEOS’s Global Expansion Strategy

ENEOS Holdings, Japan's largest oil refiner, is accelerating its push overseas as it seeks to raise the share of revenue generated outside Japan from roughly 20% today to 50% in the future, according to President Tomohide Miyata, who outlined the company's growth strategy in an extended interview that was not fully aired on TV Tokyo's World Business Satellite (WBS).

< 2 3 4 5 >