Logistics giants, Yamato and Sagawa, are experiencing increasing delays with their delivery services due to a sudden surge in demand. The rising popularity of e-commerce in Japan, particularly amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, has led to an overwhelming increase in the number of parcels needed to be delivered nationwide. This has compounded the challenges faced by these companies, causing significant disruptions in their delivery schedules across the country.

In Japan, highly valued virtues such as punctuality and efficiency make delivery service delays significantly noticeable and problematic. Moreover, the Japanese public has a deep-rooted expectation of high service quality and their trust is paramount for service providers such as Yamato and Sagawa. Therefore, the news of the delivery delay might lead to potential loss of customers and public trust, thus putting these companies under scrutiny.

In comparison to EU or US, the immediate response to such delays would vary depending on the country, the market competition, and the consumer expectations. In both the US and EU, customers also greatly value timely deliveries; however, there is more acceptance of occasional delays due to the recognition of the logistical challenges involved, especially in peak seasons like Christmas or during times of crisis like the Covid-19 pandemic.