Abstract
The postal operator has been burdened with the Universal Service Obligation (USO) as the entity tasked with providing nationwide public service. Japan Post was privatized from its public corporation status to a private company as a result of the postal reform, whereas USO, which had been imposed on Japan Post, is principally succeeded to the new business unit. This paper firstly examines the concept of USO and then compares the postal USO in Japan with those in foreign services, aiming to provide future perspectives on a desirable USO.
