Prime Minister Taro Aso, who already is apparently backpedaling on the postal system privatization instituted by predecessor Junichiro Koizumi, said Thursday he is willing to review the planned four-way splitup of the services.
Aso's remark came ahead of a scheduled end-of-March review of the 10-year postal privatization process.
His remark also appears to reflect opinions within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party that areas such as unifying mail delivery and over-the-counter services be reconsidered in order to improve services and management.
"I suppose it is time to review once again whether splitting (the postal services) into four (entities) is really good in terms of efficiency," Aso told a Lower House Budget Committee session. "After they are privatized, a system that doesn't make profits won't work. I think it's right to say we will improve it rather than review it."
In November, Aso expressed his intention to review the postal privatization plan and the LDP set up a project team to study the matter. The government started the 10-year privatization process in October 2007 by creating Japan Post as the holding company for four business units.
Aso, who was internal affairs and communications minister under Koizumi, said he was not in favor of postal privatization, although he eventually endorsed the plan as a member of the Cabinet.
On future government economic management, Aso said he plans to "break away from market economic fundamentals," in responding to a question linked to structural reforms pursued by Koizumi.