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Buzzword Explainer
Buzzwords Explained: Everyday Life Goes Online
2020.10.12
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Hello! Autumn is fully here and it's already cold outside. But thanks to telework, being able to stay cozy and work without commuting to the office is wonderful. If telework keeps up like this through winter, that means we'll get to work from under the kotatsu. My only worry is dozing off… On that telework note, this time I'd like to introduce several things whose shift online is being pushed forward, partly under the influence of COVID!
Hanko seals
This has been a hot topic lately — the aim of eliminating hanko from administrative procedures. Some ministries and local governments have apparently already adopted this, and even where it hasn't been adopted yet, many municipalities seem to be considering it favorably. The main reasons appear to be eliminating face-to-face contact and avoiding the need to come into the office.
Even outside of government, going hanko-free has already been in place for several years! With home delivery, "leave-at-door" delivery and delivery boxes don't require you to stamp a seal, and there's no in-person handover. What does make you worry, though, are the companies and craftspeople who make hanko. In interview articles I've even seen the line "It sounds like hanko are being cast as the villain." The times can be cruel…
https://www.kobe-np.co.jp/news/sougou/202010/0013762964.shtml
Marriage / divorce registration
This too stems from the move away from hanko, but it was recently reported that marriage and divorce registrations will be pushed toward being available online!
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/pickup/6373241
Online filing was already possible under the system, but apparently no municipalities had adopted it. Now, though, it looks likely to move forward given COVID and the anti-hanko trend! Looking around the world, few countries allow you to get married online only. The UAE apparently introduced it because of COVID. For divorce registration, I think online is good because it's less awkward… but for marriage registration, I felt going together in person as a couple looks more fun.
Payments to the government
At a lecture held in Tokyo, Minister for Administrative Reform Taro Kono expressed his intention to make it possible to pay everything — taxes, traffic-violation fines, and other payments to the national and local governments — online. Quoting the minister:
"There are all kinds of payments to the national and local governments, from taxes to traffic-violation fines. As things stand now, for example, if you commit a speeding violation, you have to go all the way to a financial institution to pay the fine."
He pointed this out, and to improve convenience, expressed the idea of making all payments to government available online and by similar means. I myself pay taxes by automatic withdrawal and have never committed a traffic violation, so I've never experienced that effort firsthand — but there's no doubt it would become easier! Being able to pay by credit card or QR-code payment would be convenient, I felt. That said, when it comes to paying traffic fines, part of me thinks the current way might be fine, since making you go in person gives it a proper sense of penance…
Online medical care
Once again Minister for Administrative Reform Kono revealed at a recent press conference that online medical care will in principle be permitted, including for first consultations. Digital Minister Hirai and Health Minister Tamura have both already agreed. Currently, due to COVID, online consultations are temporarily allowed even for first visits, but normally first consultations are in principle to be conducted face-to-face. Going forward this will be liberalized, but online first consultations are apparently to be conducted by video rather than by phone as a principle. Ensuring reliability looks like it may become an issue! The dermatology clinic I usually go to will also, due to COVID, prescribe my medication for continued use without an examination. It depends on the illness and the department, but for simple matters, online consultations seem convenient!
Driver's licenses
Whether COVID is a factor I'm not sure, but the digitalization of driver's licenses is also moving forward. Alongside that, the integration of driver's licenses with the My Number card is also being pursued. According to a government source:
The government has settled on a policy of introducing a "cloud service" no later than 2022 for the driver's license management systems currently operated separately by the police authorities of the 47 prefectures, and, by rolling it out in stages, unifying them nationwide.
By unifying them, cost reductions are expected, and it will also become possible to issue and renew driver's licenses anywhere in the country! Being able to renew your driver's license anywhere is great! I live in Chiba, and within the prefecture there is one renewal location each in Chiba City and Nagareyama City. People from the Boso area also come to the Chiba City license center, so it gets incredibly crowded… If this even slightly disperses the crowds, that would be wonderful!
In closing
This time I introduced several things whose shift online is being pushed forward! It ended up centered on government-related matters. It looks likely to have a big impact on daily life too. And as you may have noticed, "Minister for Administrative Reform Kono" is involved in every one of the things I introduced this time. He's someone who moves proactively! His remarks on Twitter also draw attention, and he gives the impression of a kind of politician we haven't had before. He's rather like an American legislator. He seems likely to keep changing all sorts of things going forward! Thank you for reading!