Mobile post office opens in quake-hit Noto Town

New Year greeting cards are finally arriving in some of the hardest-hit areas. In Noto Town, Ishikawa Prefecture, a specially outfitted truck has joined the effort to restore postal services, suspended since the quake.

The mobile post office opened on January 24 at Ushitsu Port Iyasaka Plaza. People queued to pick up undelivered letters, postcards, and some packages.

A woman visits the mobile post office to pick up her mail.

"I have been looking forward to getting my New Year greeting cards after the sad events of January 1," said one customer.

This customer has been eagerly awaiting his New Year greeting cards.

Ogata Masaru, director of the Noto Post Office, said, "We were unable to deliver New Year greeting cards and other items after the earthquake, and many people have been waiting for their mail. It will take time, but we want to meet the expectations of our customers."

Ogata Masaru, director of Noto Post Office

In addition to the mobile setup, mail can be collected from the Matsunami and Yanagida post offices in Noto Town between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on weekdays.

But it is still not known when individual mail deliveries will resume.