New Year Card Deliveries Drop to A Record Low in Japan

Every year on January 1st, mail carriers in Japan wake up before sunrise, grab stacks of colorful envelopes, and head out to deliver nengajo, or the traditional New Year card. For generations, these cards have been a big part of Japanese culture, kind of like holiday cards in the U.S., but on a much larger scale. 

Usually, families decorate them with zodiac animals, lucky phrases, and heartfelt messages. Some cards even have lottery numbers for a national drawing, where winners can receive various prizes. Amidst this, fewer New Year cards are being sent each year. Read on to find out why this is happening and what it says about people’s way of communication in modern times. 

What is the New Year card delivery?

People send nengajo in Japan as a sign of respect. Alongside saying “Happy New Year”, it also expresses their appreciation to their connections and keeping relationships strong. People used to send dozens, sometimes even hundreds, every year! Businesses mailed them to clients. Students mailed them to teachers. Friends mailed them to friends they hadn’t talked to in a while.

For this tradition, timing is quite strict. The postal system guaranteed that if you sent your New Year card before a certain deadline, it would arrive exactly on January 1st. It was like magic. Millions of cards land in mailboxes on the exact same day!

What happened to this tradition? 

For decades, nengajo were everywhere. Stores sold tons of cute designs, and post offices were packed with people rushing to get theirs stamped. It was truly a tradition everyone took part in! Unfortunately, though, it seems like the New Year card tradition is slowly getting lost in the waves of time. It’s been in continuous decline, with this year marking the 17th year. 2026 saw a huge drop: only 363 million cards were delivered, just 74% of last year’s total. That’s the lowest number yet. 

The Digitalization of New Year Cards 

A lot of people think the fall in New Year card numbers is connected to how fast digital communication has taken over. It’s similar to how some people don’t really write letters anymore because texting is faster. These days, people send New Year messages through apps like LINE. You can send adorable stickers, animated zodiac animals, or even a video greeting in mere seconds! You don’t even have to wait in line at the post office. These messages are still thoughtful while becoming convenient for everyone.

Moreover, relationships are maintained differently now. You don’t need a special day to reach out when you talk to your friends constantly through messages, memes, and group chats. For many, nengajo were also a way to reconnect with people they didn’t see often. But you can readily do that now with social media applications.

It’s clear that practicality definitely plays a part in this decline. Almost everything can be done online, so it makes sense that even traditions tied to paper are being pulled into the digital world. With this shift from paper to digital comes a question: is this the evolution of tradition through modernity, or is it slowly erasing the mindful customs we once had?   

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How Money Also Affected Nengajo

Money is another reason for the decline in sending New Year cards. Prices for printing and ink have been rising, consequently leading to an increase in postal rates. When you add inflation, a weaker economy, and people rethinking how they spend, nengajo can feel like an “extra” rather than a necessity.

Time is part of the problem, too. December in Japan is busy and full of last-minute tasks. People are working long hours, attending end-of-year parties, traveling to their hometowns, or handling school events. With such a schedule, sitting down to write 50 cards is definitely overwhelming!

Should I still send a nengajo for New Year’s?

The 363 million New Year cards delivered in 2026 mark a historic low, likely serving as a subtle turning point for Japan. Traditions shift when society shifts, and nengajo are currently caught right in the middle of that change. It simply can’t be helped: with busier schedules and higher costs, the speed and practicality that digital communication offers become very enticing. 

But that doesn’t mean the spirit behind nengajo is gone! People still want to wish each other luck, happiness, and good vibes for the new year. Different tools are simply being used to achieve this goal. Whether it’s a physical card or a digital sticker, the heart of the message stays the same. 

If you want, you can also still send your New Year greetings the traditional way. The digitalization of this practice might even make new year cards more meaningful to their receivers! Have you ever sent or received a New Year’s card? How was the experience? Let us know in the comments!