Latest news with #JapanPost
News18
2 days ago
- News18
‘No Sweet Tooth' Japan Rejected This Chocolate. Then Students Began Buying It — Not To Eat But...
Last Updated: For Japanese people, KitKat became a lucky charm as its name sounded like Kitto Katsu, a phrase meaning "you will surely succeed". KitKat may be a global favourite, enjoyed in over 100 countries, but in Japan, it carries a story like no other. When the product first arrived in 1973, it was simply another sweet treat, and it was initially rejected by the locals, as 'the sweet taste didn't match Japanese preferences." Fast forward to today, and KitKat stands as one of Japan's top-selling chocolates. So, what changed? How did this simple candy bar transform into a national treasure? Let's find out On his Instagram page, a Japanese entrepreneur shared, 'In 1973, a British chocolate bar arrived in Japan. Nobody cared. Sales were terrible. The taste was too sweet for Japanese preferences, and for decades, it was just another forgettable foreign snack. But then, something magical happened. In the early 2000s, students in southern Japan began buying KitKats, not to eat, but to carry as lucky charms before exams. Why? Because KitKat sounds almost identical to Kitto Katsu in Japanese, which means 'you will definitely win'." The company noticed sales skyrocketing every January during exam season. And instead of brushing it off, they embraced the trend. They partnered with Japan Post so parents could mail KitKats to their kids with handwritten messages of encouragement. Then came the flavours: strawberry from Hokkaido, wasabi from Shizuoka, purple sweet potato from Kyushu, over 450 unique varieties found nowhere else in the world. In Japan, students now often carry KitKats to exams as a lucky charm, while travellers hunt for rare, region-exclusive flavours. In Tokyo, luxury editions wrapped in gold are sold at premium prices. KitKat's success lies in how the brand embraced local habits rather than changing them. By supporting and expanding the ways people were already enjoying the chocolate, KitKat seamlessly became a part of Japanese culture. Reacting to the post, a user wrote, 'This is a classic example of 'keeping your eyes and ears open, and being flexible with your approaches'." Another shared, 'The matcha flavour is the bomb." 'How interesting," a comment read. An individual stated, 'Observe and amplify what your customer needs." One more added, 'Interesting. I always wondered why there are so many choices in Japan. Liked the Sakura sake flavoured." A Market Leader Among Giants KitKat now holds over 6% of Japan's sweets market, an impressive feat for a foreign brand competing against long-standing local giants like Meiji. A major turning point came when renowned pastry chef Yasumasa Takagi was brought on to create premium versions of KitKat. His exclusive KitKat Chocolatory boutiques became an instant hit, generating more than 2 billion yen from just 1 million customers. Today, nearly 5 million KitKats are sold in Japan every single day About the Author Buzz Staff A team of writers at bring you stories on what's creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture. view comments First Published: News viral 'No Sweet Tooth' Japan Rejected This Chocolate. Then Students Began Buying It — Not To Eat But... Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Loading comments...
Asahi Shimbun
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- Asahi Shimbun
Japan Post loses trucking license for 2,500 trucks for 5 years
The transport ministry's Kanto District Transport Bureau in Yokohama issued a notice revoking Japan Post Co.'s general transport license under the Trucking Business Law on June 25 for failure to properly check on the health of its drivers, including for drunkenness. Japan Post's approximately 2,500 trucks and vans, which are responsible for the shipment of goods between pickup and delivery locations and collecting items at large urban post offices, will be out of service for five years. Upon receiving the notice, Tetsuya Senda, president of Japan Post, said, 'I apologize for the great concern and anxiety caused to many people.' He pledged that the management team will take the lead in taking measures to prevent a recurrence. Japan Post Holdings, the parent company of Japan Post, held a general shareholders' meeting on June 25. President Hiroya Masuda apologized to shareholders, saying, 'I take this situation extremely seriously.' Japan Post has previously announced that it is in the process of outsourcing approximately 58 percent of its approximately 2,500 general cargo vehicles to Yamato Transport Co., Sagawa Express Co. and Seino Transportation Co. in addition to its subsidiary Japan Post Transport Co. The company plans to substitute in its own light cargo vehicles for the remaining 42 percent. In response to the administrative action, Japan Post released a statement that said, 'We will do our utmost to restore the trust of our customers by thoroughly establishing a system to ensure the safety of operations and the safety of drivers and customers, including implementing reliable roll calls.'
Japan Times
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- Japan Times
Japan Post stripped of truck transport business license
The transport ministry revoked Japan Post's general truck transport business license on Wednesday, in response to the company's improper roll calls to conduct alcohol and other checks on its drivers. Japan Post will not be allowed to operate its approximately 2,500 trucks and other vehicles for five years. The ministry also issued a transport safety order under the truck transport business law, urging Japan Post to conduct appropriate roll calls for minivehicle drivers. Japan Post is required to submit preventative measures by the end of July and to report on their implementation every quarter. On Wednesday afternoon, Reiko Fujita, head of the ministry's Kanto District Transport Bureau in Yokohama, met with Japan Post President Tetsuya Senda and handed over a document notifying the company of the revocation. "Our management team will spearhead efforts to prevent any inconvenience to customers," Senda said. In April, Japan Post made an announcement on the improper roll calls, prompting the ministry to launch a special inspection. After improper roll calls and data falsifications were found at 82 of the 119 post offices using trucks, the ministry notified the company on June 5 of its decision to revoke its license. Japan Post now plans to outsource more than half of its truck-based parcel pickup and delivery operations, while continuing the rest with its some 32,000 minivehicles.
25-06-2025
- Automotive
Japan Post Stripped of Truck Transport Biz License
News from Japan Society Jun 25, 2025 17:16 (JST) Yokohama, June 25 (Jiji Press)--Japan's transport ministry revoked Japan Post Co.'s general truck transport business license on Wednesday, in response to the company's improper roll calls to conduct alcohol and other checks on its drivers. Japan Post will not be allowed to operate its approximately 2,500 trucks and other vehicles for five years. The ministry also issued a transport safety order under the truck transport business law, urging Japan Post to conduct appropriate roll calls for minivehicle drivers. Japan Post is required to submit preventative measures by the end of July and to report on their implementation every quarter. On Wednesday afternoon, Reiko Fujita, head of the ministry's Kanto District Transport Bureau in Yokohama, met with Japan Post President Tetsuya Senda and handed a document notifying the company of the revocation. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
NHK
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- NHK
Japan Post's permit to operate about 2,500 delivery trucks revoked
Japan's transport ministry has revoked Japan Post's permit to operate about 2,500 delivery vehicles over the company's failure to properly conduct mandatory roll calls for its delivery personnel. The roll calls are alcohol and health checks. An in-house survey by Japan Post in April revealed they were improperly carried out at 2,391 of its 3,188 post offices nationwide, or 75 percent of the total. The transport ministry said it confirmed violations such as falsifying roll call records. On Wednesday, it handed Japan Post President Senda Tetsuya a letter revoking the operation permit for delivery vehicles. The company will be unable to use about 2,500 trucks and vans for delivery for five years. Senda said his company will take the punishment seriously and that the firm's management will spearhead efforts to prevent a recurrence. The ministry also issued an order to Japan Post to ensure the safety of its more than 30,000 delivery mini-vehicles, saying it will take time to assess their operation.
