September 30, 2026 Holding the Advisory Board for Utilizing Post Office Data in Response to Public-Sector Requests

　The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) will hold the Advisory Board for Utilizing Post Office Data in Response to Public-Sector Requests for the purpose of obtaining advice from experts, particularly on the utilization of post office data in response to such requests.

Note: The published materials are in Japanese only.

1　 Background and purpose

　In order to promote the effective utilization of data possessed and obtained by post offices (hereinafter referred to as the "Post Office Data"), while ensuring the confidentiality of correspondence, the appropriate handling of secrets of others obtained in connection with postal items, and the appropriate handling of personal information, MIC held the Study Group on Utilizing Post Office Data and Ideal Privacy Protection from October 2021 to July 2022 and the Advisory Board for Utilizing Post Office Data from December 2022 to April 2026. Through these initiatives, MIC has considered the basic idea for the utilization of Post Office Data and efforts by the Japan Post Group, and revised the explanation of the Guidelines for the Protection of Personal Information in the Postal Service Sector (Notice of the Personal Information Protection Commission and MIC No. 2 of 2022, hereinafter referred to as the "Postal Service Sector Guidelines").

　MIC will hold the Advisory Board for Utilizing Post Office Data in Response to Public-Sector Requests for the purpose of obtaining advice from experts on the basic approach and specific operations concerning the relationship between the utilization of Post Office Data, particularly the utilization of such data in response to public-sector requests, and the confidentiality of correspondence, secrets of others obtained in connection with postal items, and the appropriate handling of personal information.

2　 Matters discussed

• (1) Revision of the explanation of the Postal Service Sector Guidelines based on new public-sector requests concerning the utilization of Post Office Data
• (2) Advice on the specific operation of data provision to public-sector organizations (vacant houses, disasters, tax, and inquiries from bar associations) as stipulated in the explanation of the Postal Service Sector Guidelines
• (3) Other matters

3　 Period (of time)

　From October 2026