Japanese e-commerce giant to offer delivery lockers

Japanese e-commerce giant has joined hands with the country's national postal service to offer delivery lockers for customers to pick up items purchased online at their own convenience, the Kyodo news agency quoted sources close to the matter as saying on Thursday.

Rakuten Inc. and Japan Post Co. have planned to launch the new service in April at about 30 locations such as post offices in Tokyo, and will consider adding locations across Japan after the limited launch, according to the sources.

The new service will enable shoppers at the major Internet mall to have items delivered without their addresses known.

The service will apply only to Japan Post's Yu-Pack parcel delivery system for the same fees as its usual home delivery. The lockers will likely keep each parcel for three days and can be opened by designated passwords.

Japan Post Co. hopes the service will help increase the use of Yu-Pack parcels and cut costs by reducing redeliveries.