Japan’s traditionally conservative office culture has been slow to embrace paperless practices compared to other nations. However, the enforcement of the Revised Electronic Books Maintenance Act (Dencho Law) in 2022 has significantly accelerated corporate digitization efforts. A pivotal moment arrived on January 1, 2024, when companies were mandated to preserve electronic transaction data, compelling a shift from paper documents to digital formats. This legislative change has brought substantial attention to the digitization of invoicing, known as “Invoice DX.” Leading cloud service providers like Rakus and Sansan have capitalized on this trend, with services such as Rakus’s “RakuRaku Meisai” and Sansan’s “Bill One” being widely adopted to enhance operational efficiency.
The move towards digitization has led to a noticeable decline in office printing demand. Major OEM manufacturers, including Ricoh and Konica Minolta, are undergoing structural reforms to adapt to this shift. Despite strong business performance, Ricoh announced plans to reduce its workforce by approximately 2,000 employees to improve profitability. Similarly, Konica Minolta revealed plans to cut about 2,400 jobs. This downturn in printing demand has also impacted the remanufactured toner cartridge industry. As office printing needs diminish, the demand for remanufactured toners is contracting, prompting manufacturers to explore new business models and diversify their product lines.
The Association of Japan Cartridge Remanufacturers (AJCR), which includes major domestic remanufactured toner factories, publishes annual figures indicating a significant decline in the shipment volume of remanufactured toner cartridges. While Japan’s conservative corporate culture and market dynamics may delay a complete transition to paperless operations, the digitization wave is undeniably gaining momentum. The office supply industry must now strategize to adapt to this evolving landscape.
While the focus has been on the B2B sector—particularly office printing—the challenges in the B2C sector, such as personal printing, are even more pronounced. A key indicator of this decline is the steep drop in demand for New Year’s cards (nengajo), which have historically been a staple of Japan’s personal printing market. Approximately 20 years ago, New Year’s card issuance peaked at around 4.4 billion cards. However, this number has steadily declined, with this season’s issuance dropping by 25.7% year-over-year to about 1.07 billion cards. Furthermore, the number of cards delivered on New Year’s Day, which surpassed 1 billion in 2022, plummeted to approximately 490.52 million this year, marking a 34% decline.
This sharp decline is the largest in over a decade, with the total number of cards halving in just three years. The increase in postal rates last fall has accelerated the trend of “nengajo abandonment.” Coupled with the widespread adoption of emails and social media, as well as Japan’s aging population, the decline of New Year’s cards is expected to continue. As a result, the demand for home-use inkjet printers and inkjet cartridges—critical components of Japan’s personal printing market—is rapidly dwindling, leaving their future uncertain.
About the Author
Koichi Yoshizuka is the founder and CEO of QRIE Ltd., established in 2005. QRIE specializes in importing and wholesaling compatible inks and toners for printers. The company has successfully expanded into online sales through its e-commerce site and major platforms like Rakuten, Amazon, and Yahoo! Shopping, serving a diverse clientele ranging from corporate clients to individual consumers. Renowned for quality and affordability, QRIE has won Rakuten’s Shop of the Year award in the Electronics category three times.
In addition, QRIE is actively developing new digital businesses and products driven by employee innovation. Today, QRIE boasts annual sales revenue of approximately USD 14 million and employs 45 dedicated staff members. Under Koichi Yoshizuka’s leadership, QRIE continues to thrive and innovate in the competitive printer supplies market.
Koichi Yoshizuka was also a featured speaker at the RemaxWorld Summit 2024, held in October during the RemaxWorld Expo in Zhuhai, China. In his address, he highlighted the unique characteristics of the Japanese printing and copying market.
For communication, you can contact Koichi Yoshizuka on LinkedIn.
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