#Japan #Hallmark #Minato, Tokyo #日本ホールマーク #年賀状

Exciting New Year Greeting Cards for 2026!

Japan Hallmark, headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, has just announced the launch of new New Year greeting products on September 8, 2025. This collection caters to both individuals who continue the tradition of sending New Year cards and those who wish to stop doing so, responding to the evolving needs of consumers in a changing societal context.

Adapting to Changing Needs

With the increase in postal rates expected in October 2024, it is predicted that many people will either reduce the number of New Year cards they send or opt-out of sending them altogether. To address this trend known as "New Year Card Ending," Hallmark has developed a unique solution: special stickers that can easily be applied to cards to communicate this decision gracefully.

A recent internal survey conducted by Japan Hallmark revealed interesting insights about consumers' perspectives on New Year greetings:

• - Many began exchanging New Year cards due to personal milestones like weddings or company culture.
• - Some feel that informing friends about stopping the card exchange through messaging apps like LINE is impolite or uncomfortable.
• - Instead of completely halting greetings, customers expressed a desire to selectively reduce the number of cards sent.

To meet these diverse preferences, Hallmark has designed elegant, yet casual and cute stickers that are appropriate for various recipients. This way, they can gracefully convey the intended message without offending the recipients.

New Products Overview

The new 2026 collection includes a total of 98 items, with 15 designs highlighted in their initial release. The products will be available at specialized retail stores and on Japan Hallmark’s official online store. Check out the links below for more details:

• - Official Online Store
• - Rakuten Store

New Year Card Ending Stickers

One noteworthy item is the "New Year Card Ending Sticker," which allows individuals to notify friends and family about pausing card exchanges in a thoughtful manner. Its horizontal layout fits seamlessly with both landscape and portrait cards. Additionally, the sticker set includes embellishments to decorate cards beautifully, expressing gratitude and warm wishes.

Each sticker set features designs from popular franchises like Disney and Peanuts, allowing for a personal touch in communications.

• - Disney designs include two options,
• - One Peanuts-themed design,
• - A special “Friendship” design,
• - And two non-character decorative options.

The Beloved Characters in Greeting Cards

Fans of LINE are already familiar with the "Friendly Friends" sticker series, boasting 637,000 followers as of August 2025. Now, characters Haru-chan and Fuu-kun have transitioned from digital stickers to physical greeting cards, ready to bring joy and warmth. The two characters embody contrasting personalities, making them relatable to many.

New customized LINER stickers featuring the "Shimaenaga" design will also be released, catering to greetings during the New Year, complete with 40 different phrases for various occasions.

Expanding the Collection with New Year Cards

The New Year cards for 2026 reflect the upcoming Year of the Horse, showcased through multiple artistic designs with high-quality texture foil processing. Three new designs have been added, created by watercolor artist Izumi Nakanishi:

• - "Watercolor Foil Horse and Child"
• - "Horse in Mist"
• - "Modern Traditional Pattern Horse"

Winter Greetings with Charm

The company also emphasizes winter greetings, featuring trendy animal motifs on their seasonal cards. New designs, like the "Okojo" (a weasel) and the elegant "Snow Camellia," add a touch of seasonal beauty suitable for winter greetings.

About Japan Hallmark

Hallmark is a well-established global brand known for greeting cards, operating in more than 100 countries. Founded in 1910, it has maintained a mission of helping people connect through thoughtful communication, regardless of the changing times. The company’s commitment to innovation and quality continues to resonate with consumers.

For more information on Hallmark products, visit their official store or follow them on social media.