KYOTO - Japan Post began nationwide sales of New Year postcards for 2027 on November 2nd, with a commemorative ceremony held in Kyoto featuring traditional maiko apprentices and members of the popular idol group NMB48, as the number of postcards issued continued to decline for the 16th consecutive year.
The ceremony took place at Kyoto Central Post Office, where maiko from Miyagawacho, one of Kyoto's five traditional geisha districts, joined NMB48 members to promote the annual custom of sending New Year greetings by mail.
According to Japan Post, approximately 560 million New Year postcards have been issued for 2027, a decrease of around 200 million compared with 2025. The decline marks the 16th consecutive year of falling production, reflecting the continued shift away from traditional handwritten greetings toward digital communication.
Japan Post emphasized its commitment to preserving the custom, saying that exchanging New Year postcards remains an important part of Japanese culture and should be passed down to future generations.
During the November 2nd ceremony, participants promoted a range of postcard designs, including those featuring a sheep, the zodiac animal for 2027, as well as limited-edition products created in collaboration with NMB48.
New Year postcards, known as nengajo, have long been a familiar part of Japanese life, allowing people to exchange seasonal greetings with relatives, friends, colleagues and business associates. The tradition has faced mounting pressure as younger generations increasingly turn to messaging applications and social media.
Japan Post said it would begin accepting New Year postcards for delivery on January 1st from December 20th, with cards posted by December 27th expected to arrive on New Year's Day.
A maiko attending the Kyoto ceremony encouraged people to continue the tradition, saying in the local Kyoto dialect, "We hope you'll send New Year postcards again this year."
