I have introduced about special postcards for New Year's greeting on my blog last year, and most people use prepaid postcards issued by post office because they have lottery numbers. Every year, these postal cards are put on sale on November 1st. So, technically people can start working on their "Nengajou" from November 1st. Thus, many shops already have "Nengajou" corner as you can see in the upper left hand side photo above.
For the designs, the animal symbol of the year based on Chinese zodiac is very common. Next year, 2017, is a "Year of Rooster", then many of postcards have illustrations of roosters or Chinese characters means "bird". Also all kinds of traditional lucky symbols are popular for "Nengajou".
However, many people wouldn't start the work during November since people need to check if there is anyone who wants to skip New Year's greetings. After receiving "being-in-mourning cards" and revising their list for "Nengajou", people can start writing the cards. Well then, when people can start sending them out?
Japanese post office recommend to drop "Nengajou" into postbox between December 15th and 25th for those who want to be certain they will be delivered on January 1st. Then how "Nengajou" will be separated from many other mails which are send out at the same timing?
I'm showing typical Japanese postal box in the upper right hand side photo. Usually one of the opening is for usual letters and postcards, and the other is for large size letters, international letters, and express letters, but after December 15th some of the opening will be only for "Nengajou". Moreover, When people tie their "Nengajou" and put a label of "Nengajou" on it, post office will keep them for a while and deliver them on January 1st.
However, please be careful, these system are only applied for postcards and somehow envelopes for New Year's greeting are not applied for the system.
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