1. How Japan's Postal Service Began in 1871 and Led to Post Boxes on Street Corners
On April 20, 1871, modern postal service began in Japan, connecting Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka along the Tokaido route [1]. This new system had specific features: departures happened at set times every day, stamps were used, and letters could be dropped off at any time in "letter collection boxes" (post boxes) placed in key locations around town [2]. Places to buy stamps were also placed near these boxes. Because this was the first time people had seen such a box, the government issued notices along with instructions on how to use them, detailing the rules for sending letters [2]. This idea continues today. Thanks to the post box, except for items like registered mail that require face-to-face handling, you can drop off mail anywhere in Japan 24 hours a day [2].
2. The First Post Boxes Were Unpainted White Wooden Boxes
According to encyclopedia explanations, the post boxes at the start of the postal service, called "letter collection boxes," were made of white wood (unpainted wood) [8]. It is said that the shape was inspired by the "megabako" (a suggestion box used in the Edo period), but the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications notes that there are no historical documents to prove this link [2]. The method of collecting mail was also different from today. Delivery workers would carry the box back to the post office, remove the letters, and then return the box to its original spot [1]. Notices, price lists, and instructions for senders were displayed alongside the box [1].
3. Why the Black Pillar Post Boxes of 1872 Were Called "POST"
In 1872, when postal service began in Tokyo Prefecture, black-painted pillar boxes were installed. The mail slot had the word "POST" written on it, and from this, they began to be called "yubin post" (postal post), according to the Postal Museum’s research journal [3]. Later, it is said that black wooden rectangular pillar shapes became the mainstream style during the Meiji era [8].
4. The Red Iron Test Post Boxes Placed Near Nihonbashi in 1901
In 1901, two experimental post boxes were placed in Tokyo near Nihonbashi. On the north side was the "Tawaraya-style post box" designed by Tawaraya Takashichi, and on the south side was the "Nakamura-style post box" designed by Nakamura Koji [4]. These are considered the beginning of the red, round, iron post box [4]. They were called "rotating-type post boxes" because the mail slot rotated. This design became the prototype for the round post box (Postal Collection Box No. 1) that appeared in 1949 [4] [6].
5. Why Red Was Chosen for Japan's Post Boxes in 1908
In 1908, an official notice established that post boxes should be made of cast iron, be cylindrical, and be red [4]. However, regarding the reason for choosing red, researchers note that the Ministry of Communications annual report from that same year only contains a brief explanation: "painted vermilion so that anyone can immediately recognize it" [5]. A clue comes from Tawaraya Takashichi. He stated in a magazine that he made the box after hearing from someone at the Ministry of Communications that "post boxes are going to become red." Researchers guess that this person might have been the head of postal equipment development, but this is only a guess, not a confirmed theory [5]. Also, it was not the case that all post boxes across the country turned red at once in 1908. Black wooden post boxes remained in use for some time [5].
6. Why Old Round Post Boxes Are Still Used Today
Round post boxes were manufactured until around 1970, when they were replaced by square ones [6]. According to a report from July 2022, Japan Post stated that round boxes make up about 2.4% of the total, with approximately 4,000 still in use [7]. Out of about 176,000 post boxes nationwide (as of the end of fiscal year 2021), about 2.4% equals roughly 4,200 boxes [2]. The oldest one currently in use is said to be a 1912 model located at Toyokawa Inari in Toyokawa City, Aichi Prefecture [6]. While many metal post boxes from before the war were collected for scrap, this one was a private post box, so it continued to be used. It has a rain cover and an anti-theft valve, and is considered the prototype of today’s round post boxes [6]. However, this claim of being the "oldest in service" is based on a description by a single media outlet. The number of post boxes decreased from about 186,000 at the end of fiscal year 2002, when the Japan Post Corporation was established, to about 176,000 at the end of fiscal year 2021 [2]. Regulations require maintaining the number of boxes from when the corporation started and placing them evenly across municipalities and special wards [2].
7. How to Check the Shape and Color of Post Boxes Near You
Go and look at the post boxes in your neighborhood with your family. Be careful of cars, as they are often next to the road. Check the shape: is it cylindrical or square? Is there a rain cover on top? What is the shape of the mail slot? Comparing them helps you see the difference between today’s square boxes and the old round ones. Since round boxes were last manufactured around 1970 [7], if you find one, it may have been made around that time or earlier. The reason for the red color is only recorded in one short sentence in the available materials. You might also try reading articles by researchers who share this same question [5].