Japan-USA 1 lbs mail limit lifted

Officially, it ended Wednesday. We here living outside the Toukyou (Tokyo) Metropolitan are hoping the local Post Offices got the word today.

Here's The Japan Times report on the lifting:

Japan Post Co. resumed Wednesday accepting airmail packages weighing 453 grams (1 pound) or heavier bound for the U.S. because the carrier now has secured transportation means for such packages.

The various private parcel delivery companies never went along with the ban, arguing they already security-inspect their planes. Then again, they probably also recognized a dumb move for what it was...

Ah well, at least ex-pat Japanese might get their New Year's packages (shipped at a reasonable cost) now.