Overview

• The ministry on Sept. 26 issued administrative guidance instructing that, in principle, cases where lost mail prevents delivery or return should be publicly disclosed.
• Japan Post said it accepts the guidance and will work with the ministry to make improvements.
• The company had reported 23 incidents over four years through 2024 involving disposal or improper delivery while withholding cases judged non-willful or unattributable.
• Officials set an end-of-October deadline for Japan Post to report on organizational and procedural measures responding to the guidance.
• The action followed Sept. 12 reporting that some incidents were not disclosed and comes alongside separate MLIT enforcement this year highlighting broader compliance concerns.