In 1998, the Japanese postal service would officially switch over from the old 3- and 5-digit postal codes to the newer, more precise 7 digit postal codes. With this change, Number-kun was no longer relevant. Why would he have three numbers on him? Now there was no such thing. Everyone now knew to write their postal codes correctly and clearly, too.
The public needed to know that postal codes were changing. Two years before the change, in 1996, Number-kun was retired and replaced without a proper goodbye. From there, we got Poston.
He has the space for seven digits on his hat and a postbox for a body that proudly brandishes his name. He's younger, cuter. His hands are too real for his little cartoon body. His eyes are huge and blank.
After the postal service began privatisation in 2005, Poston, too, was thrown out and retired.
WHAT AN UNDIGNIFIED END!!!!!!!!!!!