It's more of a URL shortener. Users are assigned 7-digit alphanumeric code that macroexpands into full address on participating websites as well as on some paper application processes. There are few safety checks to prevent abuses, and linked address can be changed later when you move.
Many online address forms in Japan uses equivalent of ZIP code to do similar already, but the expanded address are as granular as ZIP codes - I always fill in the rest of the address, but if I think about it, the fractions of users who do religiously verify and clarify the addresses must be less than 100%. I suppose this code will initially solve that problem with minimal infra changes for both users and the PO.
But if it follows the person unchanged when they move then it's effectively a person addressing system / a synthetic ID for a person.
I think its more of an ID for a household
One thing that wasn't quite clear to me is whether your code is what e-commerce companies record, or the expanded address.
Hopefully it's the code, because the benefit of this is that if you move, you wouldn't need to update your address with a bajillion different companies, just the post office.
patio11 says you just give e-commerce companies the code: https://x.com/patio11/status/1927230790141616578
Interesting. More like a dns than physical address?
Entering building names can be a bit of a pain. I'm not even sure if it's required - according to Wikipedia it looks like you can just keep adding dashes until you eventually get to room number (e.g. 4-5-10-103) [1]. But a lot of address forms ask for it, so I end up entering it anyway.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_addressing_system
The building name is required in many cases because two buildings next to each other will often have the same ban-chi-go (i.e. 4-5-10 could refer to two apartment buildings that were originally on the same lot, both with room 103).
It's exceedingly common, not just some edge-case you see every once in a while.
Or just a hop of indirection like DNS that lets your "address" move with you.
Quick question - you wrote "There are few safety checks" - did you mean "There are a few safety checks"? I'm trying to figure out if this is implemented badly or not.
The basic design outlined in "important notice" section on brochure page[1] sounds a bit simplistic to be honest - it doesn't seem to have a PIN or really advanced checks, more towards "we've done our homework" checks, but OTOH, they did seem to have done homeworks.
1: https://lp.da.pf.japanpost.jp/