{
  "id": 17756647,
  "title": "Japan Post starts sales of 2027 New Year’s cards",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/02/japan-post-starts-sales-of-2027-new-years-cards",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-02T05:58:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Japan Times",
    "slug": "japan-times",
    "url": "https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/11/02/companies/japan-post-2027-new-year-card/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Japan Post began selling New Year's lottery postcards for 2027 at post offices and other locations nationwide on Monday. Customers will be able to purchase the cards starting December 20, with delivery guaranteed by December 27, marking a shift from the previous two-day deadline. The change reflects a growing trend of people sending New Year's cards later due to increased use of social media, which has contributed to a decline in the custom. The sales period has been extended by five days, ending on January 15. The initial print run for 2027 cards was 555.92 million, a 25.7% decrease compared to the previous year, marking the 16th consecutive year of declining sales. This figure represents only about one-eighth of the record high set in 2004. A third-grade school boy at the Tokyo Central Post Office in Chiyoda Ward expressed his desire to send a card to his grandparents, highlighting the tradition's importance for many families.",
  "summary": "It will accept cards for New Year's Day delivery from Dec. 20 to 27, a later deadline than in previous years.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}