As I’ve mentioned in earlier posts, including last year, Japan’s 年賀状 (New Year Postcards) that are mailed in Japan to friends and family every New Years season have a six-digit number in the lower right-hand corner on the back.
And every January, the Japan Post Office draws random numbers for the New Years Postcard Lottery. People who have cards (from the current year) with a matching number win prizes.
Every year the prizes are basically the same…but they’re very nice prizes.
This year’s (2012) winning numbers were drawn today.
The winning numbers are:
● First Place Prize: 030625 (Odds of winning: 1 in one-million)
Choice of prize includes: a 40″ Sharp TV, Canon printer, Toshiba computer, overseas or domestic (Japan) trips.
● Second Place Prize: 071658, 153787, or 675457 (Odds of winning: 3 in one-million)
Choice of prize includes: a Canon digital camera, X-Box, domestic (Japan) hotel stay, or a folding bicycle (with “no-flat tires“).
Foldable bicycle
● Third Place Prize: cards with the last-four digits being 2511 (Odds of winning: 1 in 10,000)
Choice of prize: One of many wonderful food items such as cookies, cakes, tea, curry, etc.
● Fourth Place Prize: cards with the last-two digits being 27 or 44 (Odds of winning: 2 in 100)
Prize (no choice): A set of two commemorative “Year of the Dragon” postage stamps.
2012 "Year of the Dragon" postage stamps
Once again, I won a few sets of the stamps but none of the “big” prizes. Well, there’s always next year.
How about you?
Are you in Japan? Did you win any of these prizes?
If you live in another country…does your post office have a similar lottery?
(By the way, it’s snowing in Tokyo right now. The first snow of this winter for Tokyo. It normally snows two or three times each winter in this city.)
Tokyo Five 
Hi, I won the stamps this year. It’s my first time to win anything, so I’m happy. I wonder if any of the ones I sent were winners ^_^ I still haven’t ambled over to my post office to see about collecting the prize….
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I was happy the first time I won stamps, too. But now I’d like a “better” prize!
>I wonder if any of the ones I sent were winners
Better not to think about that! 😉
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I figure I used my “prize” luck up. At one of the smaller festivals I won a 3DS from the sweepstakes. All my students were jealous. Hazukashikkata. I think I’ll use the stamp to send a thank you to the person who sent the card!
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Did you win a Nintendo DS? It’s more than I’ve ever won in those type of drawings!
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How do i win prizes?
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Well, do you have any current 年賀状 (Japanese New Years postcards)?
If so, compare the numbers listed in this post to the six-digit number that’s in the lower-right corner on the back of the cards…if any match, you’ve won.
If you don’t have any of the postcards…or if the numbers don’t match—then sorry, better luck next year. 😉
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Every year I win only Fourth Place Prize. I wish that I won the first prize.
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Yeah, I’ve only ever won stamps too…including this year.
I want one of the “big” prizes!
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