Opt-in / Opt-out

I learned something while reading a book the other day...

It seems that a new organ donation law was enacted in the Netherlands in July 2020. It is a concept called "opt-out (presumed consent)," where all residents aged 18 and over are considered to have consented to organ donation unless they explicitly register that they "do not wish to donate organs."

Japan also has an organ donation system.
In Japan's case, it is an "opt-in (explicit consent via documentation)" system. In order to donate organs, the individual must clearly express their intent to donate in writing during their lifetime (such as on an organ donor card, driver's license, or the intent section of a My Number card), and their family must not refuse it.

(Naturally,) this has led to a significant gap in the organ donation intent registration rates between the Netherlands and Japan. While Japan's organ donation intent registration rate is around 10%, in the Netherlands, 80% of people have recently expressed their intent to donate organs.

This is not a difference in national character or religious views.
It is simply a difference in the |system|.

Something similar is happening within Japan.
That is "unattended delivery" (okihai).

Amazon's unattended delivery is an "opt-out" system.
At the time of ordering a product, unattended delivery is specified (presumed consent), and only those who do not want unattended delivery choose face-to-face delivery.

On the other hand, unattended delivery by courier services like Yamato Transport and Sagawa Express is an "opt-in" system. The default is face-to-face delivery, and it does not become unattended delivery unless the recipient specifies it.

According to news from November 2025, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has decided to position unattended delivery as a standard courier service for the purpose of reducing redeliveries, and it appears they are proceeding with the revision of the standard terms and conditions of carriage.

However, that is not the issue.
Unless Yamato Transport and Sagawa Express introduce an opt-out system, they will likely never catch up to an unattended delivery rate equivalent to Amazon's.

This remains true no matter how much the government calls out that "unattended delivery services help reduce the burden on delivery drivers," or how much they appeal that it "leads to improvements in environmental impact."