The priority in privatizing Japan's gigantic postal system is to quickly split its financial and postal service operations despite strong opposition, according to high-profile economist Hiroshi Kato.
Kato, 78, president of Chiba University of Commerce and a professor emeritus of Keio University, said it will take different approaches to transform the two operations of the quasi-governmental Japan Post into private companies, the final goal of the long-debated postal reform. Kato is known for his role in past privatization projects.
"Financial and transportation services have totally different business worlds," he said.