Japan Post to Start Delivering Letters and Packages by Drone as Early as Fiscal Year 2023

Welcome to "Learn Japanese from the News."

Thanks for joining us.

In this program, we'll learn Japanese and about the country through Japanese news stories.

Today's headline is: "Japan Post to Start Delivering Letters and Packages by Drone as Early as Fiscal Year 2023."

So we're talking about what could be the future of mail delivery.

Yes! But before we go to the news clip, let's go over some words to listen for.

"nimotsu."

In the context of today's story, "package."

"hakobu."

Carry.

"tobasu."

To make something fly.

OK, let's watch the news clip.

The rules for flying drones
were revised in December 2022.

Operators can now fly drones
over residential areas even if they do not have
a line of sight.

For this reason, Japan Post
plans to start a service delivering letters and packages
by drone from fiscal year 2023.

The service will use drones
that are postbox-red and about 1.5 meters long.

They are capable of carrying
payloads of up to 5 kilograms as far as 35 kilometers away.

Japan Post plans to
launch the service in places where there are
not enough delivery workers,

such as mountainous areas
and islands.

OK. Let's review the following sentence from the story.

Operators can now fly drones over residential areas even if they do not have a line of sight.

Now read along with me.

"soojuu-shiteiru hito kara doroon ga mienakute mo ie nado ga aru basho no ue de

doroon o tobasu koto ga dekiru yoo ni narimashita."

When you want to describe something flying on its own, we use the verb "tobu."

But today's story uses the verb "tobasu," which means "to make something fly."

Here, it refers to someone operating a drone.

Last December, Japan revised its civil aeronautics law to ease restrictions on the use of drones.

Yes, I've heard that Japan's drone laws are actually pretty strict.

Yes, there are a lot of regulations to reduce the risk of accidents.

But with this latest revision, drone pilots can now fly their aircraft over residential areas beyond their line of sight - as long as they meet certain criteria.

Sounds like that opens up a whole bunch of new ways to use drones!

That's right.

OK, let's move on to our next sentence.

Japan Post plans to start a service delivering letters and packages by drone from fiscal year 2023.

Now read along with me.

"Nippon-yuubin wa doroon de tegami ya nimotsu o todokeru saabisu o nisen-niju-san-nendo kara hajimeru yotee desu."

Japan Post specifically hopes this new service can help in mountainous areas and remote islands, where there is a shortage of delivery drivers.

Speaking of remote islands, in Japanese we say "ritoo."

The kanji "ri" means "distant" or "separated."

So for example, when an airplane flies into the air, we say "ririku," or "take off."

So, Japan Post is saying that the drone they plan on using is about 150 centimeters long, and it can carry payloads of up to 5 kilograms as far as 35 kilometers away.

Now that's impressive!

There are countless applications for drone technology, but I am particularly interested in how it could be used for search and rescue missions, or for disaster relief.

Yes, me too.

OK, now let's check in with Tokunaga-sensei to learn about the word "nimotsu" and other terms related to package delivery.

Soon we may be able to use drones
to deliver "nimotsu" and "tegami."

The act of delivering packages
is called "takuhai."

"Taku" means "uchi,"
that is, "home."

"Takuhai" originally referred to
home delivery services.

These days it also refers to delivery
to a workplace or other location.

It can also refer to the delivery
of items other than packages.

For example, "takuhai-piza"
and "takuhai-bentoo."

"Takuhai" means having food delivered
to a designated location such as your home or workplace

rather than buying or eating
at a restaurant.

"Inside Japan."

Chiara, how do you feel about delivery services in Japan?

Well, Japanese delivery services are very reliable and thorough.

Yes.

Let's go over how to send and receive packages in Japan.

The first thing you'll need to send a package is what's called a "denpyoo" or "okuri-joo" basically, a "waybill."

Write the name, postal code, address, and phone number of both the sender and recipient.

If you want, you can also designate a delivery date and time.

Being able to specify when you want your package delivered is super convenient, because you can ensure that someone is actually at home to accept the delivery.

Exactly.

Once your package is ready, there are two main ways to send it out.

One is to take your package into a convenience store or delivery center.

The other is to contact the delivery company online or by phone and schedule a pickup at your home or office.

"shuuka o onegai-shimasu."

We call this "shuuka."

You'll also have to decide on a payment method.

There are two options: one is "moto-barai" or "hatsu-barai," where the sender pays for shipping upfront.

The other is "chaku-barai," which means "payment on delivery."

That's when the recipient pays for shipping when it arrives at their doorstep.

Now, let's talk about how to receive a package.

If you aren't there, the delivery person will leave a notification slip, which is called a "fuzai-renraku-hyoo."

Yes, I remember the first time I received a "fuzai-renraku-hyoo" in my mailbox.

And you're supposed to call for redelivery, but there were so many different numbers and phone numbers, I wasn't quite sure what to do at first.

Yes, that can be confusing.

Ah, the phone number is different depending on what time you're calling, and whether you're using a mobile phone or a landline.

OK, let's go over some basic phrases you should know to arrange for redelivery.

The first thing you want to say is "sai-haitatsu o onegai-shimasu."

"Sai" is like the English prefix "re-," as in "redeliver."

The representative will say "fuzai-renraku-hyoo no otoiawase-bangoo o onegai-shimasu."

They're asking for the tracking number or notification number listed on the notice.

Keep in mind that while some call centers will connect you to a live operator, it's becoming more and more common to reschedule through an automated system powered by AI.

And sometimes the "fuzai-renraku-hyoo" will provide a QR code...

so you can arrange for redelivery online through your mobile phone.

Yes, I find getting deliveries in Japan are very stress-free experience.

I recently had to order an evening gown from the US, because I'm too tall to get one in Japan, and while I knew it would take a while for it to ship from the US, as soon as it came into Japan,

within 48 hours I would have it, and it even came a day early.

And I could choose what time they delivered it.

It was fabulous.

Right. I'm often surprised at how quickly I receive what I order online.

Definitely.

OK, and that's it for today.

We'll see you next time.

See you soon.