Khaldon Azhari

TOKYO:  Japanese administrative reform minister KONO Taro said that Prime Minister Suga is “very impatient” as he requests “results within hours.”

Kono spoke at the the G1 Executive Conference, an event organized by G1 Institute in Tokyo on Monday. PM Suga told the morning session his government is paying close attention to administrative reforms.

“Every time he sees me, Suga has been (poking) and instructing me to get done as much as I can this year,” Kono joked. 

Getting rid of hanko customs and all the procedures that require hanko stamping will be eliminated as much as possible by changing laws in the diet sessions next year, Kono said, referring to the sensitive and traditional populate personal stamp making in Japan, equal to signatures in other cultures. Coronavirus social distancing protocols encouraged to reduce the need to sign by hanko as online documents are getting more popular.

Digitization using ‘my number’ cards, another reform pushed by Kono, “will be promoted and everything will be accessible online next year,” he said.

“We can change addresses, surnames, especially women when they get married, and also paying residence taxes will be available soon once we change laws. Making most procedures accessible and doable online is our ultimate goal,” he told about 100 attendants from various economic circles and business managements attending the event.

Yoshito Hori, G1 CEO said in the session: “We deal with papers all the time when writing checks and receipts and we are required to keep a record of them by filing. Changing this custom is important for digitization.”

Hori said in January, the Japanese parliament will discuss two amendments’ proposals for establishments the ministry of digitalization, and getting rid of Hanko system by eradicating all ore users requiring Hanko stamping.

Kono repeated, also jokingly, he was pushed by PM to finish all the preparations within this year.