Post offices nationwide launched sales of 2021 New Year's lottery postcards on Thursday.
In light of marking the Year of the Cow on the Chinese 12-year animal zodiac cycle in 2021, many cards feature images of the animal, including Fukushima Prefecture's novelty trinket called Akabeko -- a red cow pictured with Japanese apricot flowers.
Cards featuring illustration of the popular anime "Kimetsu no Yaiba" (Demon Slayer) are available online and also will go on sale at post offices on Nov. 20.
The Tokyo Chuo Post Office in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, kicked off sales at 9 a.m., and postcard-seekers had already formed a line in anticipation purchasing the items.
The office also held a commemorative event that featured an appearance by Satoshi Ono and Sho Sakurai, members of the popular group Arashi.
Post offices will start accepting drop-offs of New Year's greeting cards on Dec. 15.
Cards placed in post boxes by Dec. 25 will be delivered on New Year's Day. Japan Post Co. expects to issue about 1.94 billion cards, about 400 million fewer than the previous year.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
