is a Japanese publicly traded conglomerate headquartered in Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda, Tokyo. It is mainly engaged in postal and logistics business, financial window business, banking business and life insurance business. The company offers letters and goods transportation services, stamp sales, deposits, loans, and insurance products.
On November 4, 2015, Japan Post Holding () was listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange as part of a "triple IPO" (initial public offering) with shares offered as well in Japan Post Bank () and Japan Post Insurance (). About 10% of the shares in each company were offered. In October 2021, the Japanese government abandoned its majority ownership of the company, while also still maintaining the most stock.
Japan Post Holdings is also a constituent of the Nikkei 225 and TOPIX Large70 indices.
History
The company was founded on 23 January 2006, although it was not until October 2007 that it took over the functions of Japan Post.
There were plans to fully privatize the company, but these have been put on hold. , it ranked thirteenth in the Fortune Global 500 list of the world's largest companies.
On April 25, 2017, Japan Post Holdings said it would have a ¥40bn ($360m) loss for its first full financial year as a listed company, due to losses from Toll Group, which it controversially acquired in 2015.
In September 2017, the Japanese government announced its sale of $12 billion worth of Japan Post Holdings Co. Ltd. stock. It was the first sale since the 2015 IPO of the postal company and its two units, Japan Post Bank Co. Ltd. and Japan Post Insurance Co. Ltd.. That sale also raised $12 billion, which was used for the repair and reconstruction of places that were destroyed by an earthquake and tsunami in 2011.
In December 2019, the heads of Japan Post Holdings announced that they will resign over the improper sales of insurance policies, after the regulator announced administrative punishments against the companies. The company said that Hiroya Masuda, a former minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, has been appointed as successor to current CEO Masatsugu Nagato.
In March 2021, Japan Post Holdings announced that it would invest 150 billion yen or 1.38 billion USD and take a 8 percent stake in internet conglomerate Rakuten.
Senior leadership
Japan Post Holdings has been led by a President and CEO - both roles being held by the same executive - since the company's founding in 2006.
List of presidents and CEOs
Yoshifumi Nishikawa (2006–2009) Jiro Saito (2009–2012) Atsuo Saka (2012–2013) Taizo Nishimuro (2013–2016) Masatsugu Nagato (2016–2020) Hiroya Masuda (since January 2020)
Operating companies
The group operates via four main divisions: Japan Post, which deals with mail delivery and runs the post offices. Prior to 2012 this division was divided in Japan Post Service and Japan Post Network. Japan Post Bank, which deals with banking functions. Japan Post Insurance, which provides life insurance. Toll Group, which provides transportation and logistics
Privatization
Early discussions
Privatization of the postal system in Japan was first considered in the 1980s under Prime Minister Nakasone, who, amid concerns about the government deficit, oversaw the privatization of three major public corporations: the Japanese National Railways, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT), and Japan Tobacco. These discussions did not proceed, and in 1997 the issue of privatizing Japan Post Bank specifically was raised again under Prime Minister Hashimoto. This time, opposition from within the ruling and opposition parties resulted only in reforms aimed at improving financial discipline that fell short of actual privatization.
Enactment of privatization
In 2001, during an economic downturn in Japan, LDP politician Junichiro Koizumi took office with significant public support to privatize the postal system. Benefits of privatization that were touted by supporters included efficiency of the financial sector, reducing political influence in the use of postal savings, and reducing bureaucratic mismanagement of funds. Detractors, including the postal lobby were concerned that privatization would shrink the universal availability of postal services in Japan, losing to job losses and the closing of rural post offices.