Administrative Reform Minister Kono working to speed up digitalization in Japan

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Administrative Reform Minister Kono working to speed up digitalization in Japan

Administrative Reform Minister Kono working to speed up digitalization in Japan

Japan's Taro Kono spoke at the 10th G1 Global Conference in Tokyo on Sunday. (ANJ Photo)

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11 Oct 2020 01:10:25 GMT9

Arab News Japan

Japan’s Administrative Reform Minister KONO Taro said at the 10^th G1 Global Conference in Tokyo on Sunday that the first step in digitalizing the Japanese government and business procedures is through abolishing the hanko procedure.

Kono explained that the hanko stamp is a Japanese tradition, however it requires people to use extra paper, which he deems wasteful.

He added that during the pandemic, many people were required to go into their offices, in the midst of lockdowns and curfews, just to add the stamp to their official paperwork.

“I want to speed up the process of digitalization in Japan,” he said at the conference.

Speaking of the world post-COVID-19, Kono said that during his time as defense minister earlier in the year, many other world leaders were worried about the future after the coronavirus pandemic ends.

He said Japan’s role in the future is to support democracy around the world. “Some countries are already there, and some other countries will need time,” he said. “We should support their efforts and we shouldn’t really speed up the process.”

Kono told the G1 Global Conference that Japan’s role is to reach “Christian values of Europe, the US and other countries, as well as other cultures. Every state has different speed.”

#LIVE: @konotaromp said at the @G1Global Conference the only difference between former PM @AbeShinzo and current PM @sugawitter, is that Suga does not play golf@G1SUMMIT @konotarogomame https://t.co/sve27ATI5t pic.twitter.com/c5ckvThVdp
— Arab News Japan (@ArabNewsjp) October 11, 2020

Speaking about SUGA Yoshihide’s new administration, Kono said the new PM was working hard and making it a priority to digitalize official procedures in Japan.

He explained that the only difference between former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo and current leader Suga is that the new PM does not “play golf.”

“I don’t think he can do the gold diplomacy with President Trump as well as Abe, he will have to find another way,” Kono said.

The Japanese minister said that Suga, however, was always involved in global issues and is a member of the National Security Council.

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