Sending stuff abroad from Japan (printed matters)

[minader]

Have anyone ever done this?
I've been living here since April and I bought several books (manga and light novels), and since I'm leaving next month I was thinking already about sending things back.
I saw on Japan post office site that if you send books and you specify they are printed matters, you get lower prices.
However, there is a limit of 5 KG for normal boxes; if you exceed it, you have to use a so-called "special mailbag".
Does any of you know what is this thing and where I can get it? At post office? (I'm asking this here because I'm not fluent in Japanese and I'd prefer not doing it there!)
If anyone ever used it, how safe is it? I'm afraid books might be spoiled using that instead of normal boxes

and another question: I'm planning to send books by ship, I know is much slower and I'm ok with it, but is it safe as other shipping methods (like SAL and Airmail)?

any answers/suggestions are much appreciated!

 

[Mike Cash]

If you're going to reference a site, it would help us help you if you included a link instead of making us go googling stuff.

 

[minader]

post office page for printed matter: Printed Matter - Japan Post
special mailbag: Printed Matter in Special Mailbags - Japan Post

 

[Mike Cash]

Thanks. I'll try to look into it for you tomorrow if I get a chance.

 

[minader]

thank you!
I'd really like to send by this method since I have several kg of books already :\

also any feedback would help, if anyone has experience about it

 

[Mike Cash]

I don't see any restriction against bundling books together inside the special mailbag. I think they'd be adequately protected if you wrap them four or five together with some newspaper or wrapping paper around the outside and secured with twine. It would avert any potential hassle if on each such bundle you left some small exposed area so they can see at a glance that it is indeed all books and you're not trying to pull a fast one on them.

Here is the relevant page in Japanese. Keep in mind this is only available from a certain few major post offices. You may choose air mail, SAL, or slow boat.

I believe you can arrange to have the Post Office come to your place to pick up the bundles., saving you a headache (and backache!). I don't know if they would bring the bags or if you would be able to pick them up ahead of time. You'll need to contact the Post Office nearest you which handles this service.

 

[nekojita]

I believe this is the same as m-bags elsewhere. You can box the books, but the boxes may get opened to check you're not cheating.

I wouldn't send valuables via surface mail, but for a box of books it's totally fine.

 

[minader]

I sent the books a couple of days ago.
The post office near my home doesn't send big packages of printed matter (as already suggested here) so I had to go a bit far... but everything was fine at the end.
So yeah, that's it. Thank you again for your helpful suggestions.