PayPay launches ‘otoshidama’ gift service

The Yomiuri Shimbun

11:35 JST, December 31, 2022

Mobile payment giant PayPay Corp. is offering a service for electronically sending “otoshidama,” cash gifts that are usually given to children at New Year.

Through Jan. 5, PayPay users will be able to send money and a message adorned with seasonal motifs.

According to the company, the number of person-to-person remittances processed on Jan. 1-3, 2022, was more than double that of the same period the previous year. The increase was partly attributed to the fact that fewer people returned to their hometowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation.

“We want this service to be used across all generations,” a PayPay spokesperson said.