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To say that My Number cards, the soon-to-be mandatory digital card that incorporates national pension and health insurance, among other government services, are not without major headaches is putting it mildly.
Thanks to offered incentives like ¥20,000 in usable points, the number of valid applications has reached 96.7 million people, or 76.8% of Japan's population. But the rollout up to now, reports Shukan Gendai (May 27), has been fraught with stumbling blocks.
"In order to continually utilize their My Number health card, holders will be obliged to go to a government office to renew their card every five years," explains economic journalist Hiroko Ogiwara. "But if renewal somehow gets overlooked, they will effectively be uninsured."
Which means that for cases requiring extensive treatment, an uninsured person would be hit with huge hospital charges. For example, a person who happens to be struck down by cardiac failure might be charged over ¥20 million for treatment.
"With the old system, before health cards expire a holder is automatically sent a new one," Ogiwara points out. "With the new My Number card system however, holders will be notified of impending expiration, but in order to renew, they will need to visit the city or ward office. For elderly people living alone, or the physically handicapped, as well as those who simply overlook renewal, abrupt expiration is certainly a possibility. This raises concerns that more and more people will be left uninsured."
And that's not the only risk. When receiving treatment at a medical facility, the chances of personal data being leaked increase exponentially.
On May 12, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare revealed that between October 2021 and November 2022, at least 7,300 known cases of unauthorized obtaining of personal data from My Number health insurance cards. More cases probably went unreported.
"Along with the government making it possible for the patient's digitalized medical records to be accessible, it's intended that private sector businesses will have access to the data," explains cardiologist Kazuki Sato, one of 1,075 doctors who have brought suit against the national government over the mandatory implementation of the My Number health insurance cards. "Superficially that would appear convenient, but the person's entire medical history and password can be viewed," he says.
No matter what precautions the government takes, the magazine comments, there will always be flaws in the system. And therefore there's no way to guarantee that important medical data will be safe.
Opposition to the cards also extends to rest homes and other care facilities.
"Since four-digit passwords are required to access the cards, seniors who enter care facilities have to put their numbers in writing," a staff member of a group of facilities based in Kanagawa Prefecture tells the magazine, adding, "Unlike health insurance cards, the My Number cards enable access to personal data. If unauthorized people get their hands on the material, all kinds of troubles can result."
It is already known that bad actors are involved in the compiling of "secret name lists" containing the names of household members, family assets, etc., which they sell to criminal groups. From last November through January, a team of Manila-based criminals networked with swindlers and thieves in Japan, which led to a number of home invasions and other crimes.
"If the current situation, by which My Number health insurance data can be hacked, thereby enabling criminals to target the elderly and infirm, is allowed to persist, theft of card data will wreak havoc on the nation's finances and the medical system," said the aforementioned Ogiwara. "In the worst-case scenario, Japan's public safety could suffer. It could possibly lead to a breakdown of the health care system and cost people their lives," she added.
With its strong-arm tactics, the government's considerations for the lives and safety of the citizens are being treated as lightly as the 5-gram plastic cards that carry their data, Shukan Gendai concludes.
What's more, for all the sound and fury over the rollout, we're looking at a system that will be obsolete three years from now.
Yes, you read correctly. According to Nikkan Gendai (June 5), plans have been announced for a re-launch the system -- to be called New My Number Card -- with introduction scheduled for the 2026 fiscal year. Estimated cost to the taxpayers: over ¥2 trillion.
Toshiro Miyazaki, who belongs to an NPO opposing the card's introduction, rages at the shortcomings of the current system.
"I'm appalled to hear of plans for introduction of a new card when the integration of the supposedly voluntary My Number card with the health insurance card, which is now mandatory, is itself beset by major problems. If the format changes, card reader terminals may need to be redesigned as well. The system vendors might make money, but it'll be medical institutions and the citizens that will suffer the disadvantages.
"The first thing the government should do is stop operating the My Number cards, which have been beset by lots of problems, and investigate the causes," Miyazaki said.
© Japan Today
58 Comments
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GBR48
Digital makes the exclusion of the poor, the elderly and the disabled the default. So much for that 'inclusive society' we were promised. Tech is less resilient and less secure than analogue. Forcing someone to have a smartphone before they can do stuff is morally wrong. Just make it optional.
NCIS Reruns
I've read articles to the effect that even those covered by insurance will be charged higher fees if they don't have or use their My Number cards. If it's just a nominal penalty, like ¥300, I'll gladly pay it just to avoid having to go to the government office, by appointment only, to receive a card that I don't even want.
Legrande
Yes, you read correctly. According to Nikkan Gendai (June 5), plans have been announced for a re-launch the system -- to be called New My Number Card -- with introduction scheduled for the 2026 fiscal year. Estimated cost to the taxpayers: over ¥2 trillion.
Perfect example of the LDP creating another costly project whereby taxpayers' money is accessed and obviously various fees are charged to cover the costs of executing the project, all in the name of the public good, when obviously the old system is just as if not more trustworthy and viable regarding safeguarding personal data.
mountainpear
Wonder where the making of the software was outsourced to. Probably C-Koku!
JeffLee
I've got the card, and it's ridiculous that you have to apply for every service. I applied for the card, and then I needed to keep on filing applications, usually by filling out forms on paper, telling them the same information that's already on their records. I've lived in four countries, and I've never experienced such a bureaucratic hassle before.
virusrex
Of course this do not take into account foreigners, that will still need to go to the city office every time they get their visa extended/changed. If someone is on yearly contracts that means getting also yearly visas, and also yearly visits to the city office to put their MNC in order.
gcFd1
This is wrong; if you were in Japan you would know that foreigners who have permanent residency for example can stay legally in Japan without any relation to contracts, whether they are on one year contracts or not.
And there would be no need to get a yearly visa either.
virusrex
I specifically mentioned those that ARE on yearly contracts, which is nothing rare. Those people are still heavily inconvenienced by the added visits to the city office.
To contradict this claim you would need to demonstrate there are no foreigners on yearly contract in Japan, not that some foreigners are free from this situaiton.
GillislowTier
The whole system is a mess of unknown and unnecessary complexity. When the system first rolled out I was fresh in Japan and told to get it. Went to city hall and there was a big -shrug- I don’t know what that is or how to give it to you… despite them saying I needed it lol
Even better none of the other staff at city hall had one yet either despite it rolling out seven months before. Fast forward to now and I still just have a paper card that says don’t show it to anyone but literally every official document tries to get the dang number now. The bureaucracy behind this system is so dense and pointless it’s no wonder no one can navigate it
CPTOMO
Foreigners can be on yearly contracts but have visa status that allows them to reside in Japan longer thsn one year. So, the one year contract would not require that person to visit to the city office.
wallace
Foreigners with Residence Cards have to renew their My Number card when the Residence Card is renewed.
Renewed Residence Card 2022, valid 2029.
*Renewed My Number Card 2022 valid until 2027.
*Need to renew MY Number in 2027.
Need to renew my Residence Card in 2029.
*Need to renew My Number in 2029.
There is a kanji character error on My Number card which means I cannot use it for online ID. The City office said I could not change it even if I renew the card.
wallace
Always have a problem scanning My Number card for Mynaportal
virusrex
Again, unless you can prove every single foreigner in Japan that has yearly contracts have visas that last for longer than one year your argument do not disprove the claim that for those people this is a yearly inconvenience.
gcFd1
I know this is wrong.
If a foreigner is residing in Japan on a spousal visa, there is no requirement to have any type of work contract.
cleo
This is a scam.
Health insurance premiums are deducted automatically from salaries, pensions, or directly from bank accounts; but if I want to avail myself of the benefits I have PAID FOR, I have to go cap in hand to the yakuba and ask Pretty Please?
Credit card companies and the like, not to mention the current health insurance card people, seem to have no problems sending out new cards when they're up for renewal.
They can't do this with the shiny-tinkly-bells-and-whistles-almighty MY Number cards because ... why?
CPTOMO
In Japan visas are not handled at the city office where MNC are handled.
virusrex
No, you claim this is wrong, but have been unable to prove so, just repeat that claim.
Irrelevant, to say this is wrong you need evidence that say the case described is not possible, presenting other examples do nothing to prove the problem exposed do not exist.
So, do you have this evidence?
Nobody said they are handled at the city office, in the comment you quote it is said people need to go to the city offec WHEN they get their visa extended, not TO get them extended.
wallace
If you will be staying longer than 90 days with an appropriate visa, you must register your address with your residence's municipal office and obtain a Resident Card (“Zairyu Card”) from regional immigration offices.
When the card is obtained you must register it with the local city office. At the same time apply for My Number card.
The My Number card is not mandatory. My Number card is issued for 5 years so what happens when a visa is for less time? I guess it must still be 5 years regardless of the visa time.
qazwsx
Besides adding health insurance information to this stupid card, there are talks of incorporating drivers licenses to this, and for foreigners our ID cards.
For those of you saying you are going to avoid having this card, you're going to end up having to get it anyway. I totally agree, it's ridiculous.
How can we protect our "my number/new my number" if we have to carry it around with us as our ID, and rental car companies make photocopies of it when we rent a car!?
wallace
Very difficult to combine the Residence Card and MNC, which operates on a local level, and the RC on a national level.
SDCA
They probably need to create useless tasks for the government employed people working at city halls which can otherwise be automated more efficiently. Need to keep them occupied because government workers have secured jobs and it is extremely hard to fire the. They probably also want a new picture of you every five years.
RKL
A contract is not requirement for foreigners to have a visa to reside in Japan.
There is no reason for foreigners to go to the city office to or when their visa is extended. And you wrote:
wallace
We don't want MNC people involved with Residence Card.
virusrex
Which is irrelevant to contradict the claim that those in yearly contract frequently have to deal with yearly visas as well, you have failed to argue against this several times already.
Yes there is, to do the paperwork necessary to keep their MNC, which is what the article talks about. Your mistake is again thinking the only reason a foreigner would have to go to the city office was related to get their visas, something already said is false.
gcFd1
True.
You made the incorrect claim.
I even pointed out earlier:
If a foreigner is residing in Japan on a spousal visa, there is no requirement to have any type of work contract.
virusrex
The claim is not incorrect as clearly explained in the previous comment, you assumed the only reason to visit the city office was to obtain their visa, that was proved false already.
The reason many foreigners have to go to the city office is to renovate their MNC, which for those in yearly contracts (and yearly visa renovation) situation also becomes a yearly problem.
You still have to prove there is no foreigner that has to their visa yearly as you claimed, are you recognizing then that this situation actually occurs? because then you would have to recognize as well that those in this situation also need to go to the city office to extend or remake their MNC as well since the validity depends on the visa.
CPTOMO
You are completely wring.
In Japan, the city office does not handle visas.
And all foreigners do not need to go to the city office yearly whether or not they have a one year contract.
lunatic
Commenters are angry because MyNumber expires every year if you have a yearly Visa.
Every year you gotta apply both: Visa Extension in Immigration, and MyNumber in the City Office.
That should be handled entirely between the administrations.
virusrex
I already corrected this misunderstanding of you several times, people would need to go to the city office for their MNC, not the visas. Why repeat the same mistake over several comments?
Yes they do, if their visas are also yearly and they want to keep their MNCs
Moonraker
Because, like most bureaucratic initiatives in Japan, doubling it up as a make-work program for bureaucrats is always part of the plan. And, having the people pitch up in front of a bureaucrat for entirely arbitrary reasons is one way of reminding them of their place vis-a-vis the state.
u_s__reamer
With its strong-arm tactics, the government's considerations for the lives and safety of the citizens are being treated as lightly as the 5-gram plastic cards that carry their data, Shukan Gendai concludes.
Yep, the long historical record of governance in Japan illustrates that these latest "strong-arm" tactics by the powers-that-be are just par for the course of Japanese history since the mass of Japanese people have never been able to create a robust culture of grass-roots democracy to counter the crushing, suffocating Asian authoritarianism emanating from above the clouds.
gcFd1
Many here have corrected your misunderstanding several times.
The city office does not issues visas for foreign residents.
One year contracts do not mean foreign residents must visit the city office.
It can be complex to understand.
virusrex
No misunderstanding from my part, the "corrections" making imaginary points already refuted are the ones invalid.
I already corrected this misunderstanding of you several times, people would need to go to the city office for their MNC, not the visas. Why repeat the same mistake over several comments?
You still have to prove there is no foreigner that has to their visa yearly as you claimed, are you recognizing then that this situation actually occurs? because then you would have to recognize as well that those in this situation also need to go to the city office to extend or remake their MNC as well since the validity depends on the visa.
Making an effort could help with that, you can begin by reading the comments that disprove the claims you (and nobody else) is making.
CKAI
Yes! Just kill it. With fire.
the causes… Loot mentality cult buds at heart.
Disillusioned
It is a good thing in theory, but there is still too much paper involved. The paper trail is where mistakes and misuse happen. Japan also still has a big problem with poor cyber security. It's one thing to go digitsl, but it is a completely different thing to provide adequate cyber security for a digital service.
RKL
This is well-known to any foreign residents in Japan.
WRONG on two basic points.
First, being on a yearly contract does NOT require getting a yearly visa all the time. You have no evidence of this, because there is none, under Japanese immigration law.
Second, yearly visits to the city office is not always the case. You have no evidence a visit to the city office every time is needed, because in some locations the WARD office handle MNC.
Glad to correct you,
virusrex
I already corrected this misunderstanding of you several times, people would need to go to the city office for their MNC, not the visas. Why repeat the same mistake over several comments?
You still have to prove there is no foreigner that has to their visa yearly as you claimed, are you recognizing then that this situation actually occurs? because then you would have to recognize as well that those in this situation also need to go to the city office to extend or remake their MNC as well since the validity depends on the visa.
Wards can also call themselves cities, and their offices a city office.
http://www.foreign.city.shinjuku.lg.jp/en/aramashi/aramashi_5/
Unfortunately you keep "correcting" things that are not mistaken based on repeatedly mistaken the text you quote.
gcFd1
Exactly!
Great point.
So wrong.
Why distribute wrong information again and again?
Try and understand the facts before making baseless personal claims.
virusrex
What evidence do you have to contradict the reference that clearly identify a ward office as a "city office" in their official site? that would be the opposite of a great point, it is one demonstrated false.
Well, you have still to bring any reference that no foreigner have to renew their visa yearly because of their also yearly contract. Without that evidence you would be wrong by calling this information false.
gcFd1
Foreigners (and Japanese) in Japan know this basic difference
virusrex
What difference are you talking about. The fact is that ward offices identify themselves as city office without any problem in their official pages. Saying it is wrong to call them this way is incorrect.
CPTOMO
So true.
Foreign residents in Japan with basic understanding of Japanese understand the distinction between a city and ward office. It can be confusing at first, especially when not residing in Japan.
Shinagawa for example is very polite and smooths over the meaning for people outside Japan on their website:
https://www.city.shinagawa.tokyo.jp/MB/mpg000000002.html
But if you look at the Japanese, and understand it, you can see the actual meaning (go ahead--cut and paste into a translation site):
品川区役所
gcFd1
Well done!
That puts to rest the jelly-supported claim:
virusrex
That is irrelevant, your claim was that it was wrong to call it a city office, the own official site of the goverment calls it that way, That means it is not wrong but a perfectly valid way to call it in English.
The official internet page claim on the other hand still remains completely valid. People that need to tramit their MNC can visit the city office, even if they live in a ward, the own goverment says so.
kohakuebisu
I've just had to make a copy of my daughter's MyNumber card to apply for a subsidy at her school. The number on the rear of the card, presumably the most important bit, is printed in black on medium grey, making it difficult to photocopy legibly. I had to mess around with brightness and contrast in a freeware Photoshop-type program called GIMP to print a photograph with legible numbers. Non-computer savvy people or folks reliant on the photocopier in the convenience store may struggle to do this.
gcFd1
You are wrong for saying foreign residents on yearly contracts MUST go to the city office.
You have been told several times that your opinion is factually wrong.
And you should look up the Japanese word on google translate or something to help you understand:
品川区役所
Is it city? Or ward?
RKL
Yes.
Yearly contracts do not require all foreigners to visit the city or WARD office yearly.
Any resident in Japan knows this.
virusrex
Well, you have still to bring any reference that no foreigner have to renew their visa yearly because of their also yearly contract. Without that evidence you would be wrong by calling this information false.
That is irrelevant, your claim was that it was wrong to call it a city office, the own official site of the goverment calls it that way, That means it is not wrong but a perfectly valid way to call it in English.
CPTOMO
You have not presented any evidence that all foreigners on yearly contracts have to renew their visa.
Your claim is wrong because ward office is a ward office. If you choose to wrongly call it something else that is your misunderstanding
virusrex
Well, you have still to bring any reference that no foreigner have to renew their visa yearly because of their also yearly contract. Without that evidence you would be wrong by calling this information false.
That is irrelevant, your claim was that it was wrong to call it a city office, the own official site of the goverment calls it that way, That means it is not wrong but a perfectly valid way to call it in English.
virusrex
As other posters have already commented this is a frequent situation that is not at all difficult to believe, you are the only one claiming no foreigner under yearly contracts have also yearly visas, without providing any source to prove this. And anybody under yearly visas has to visit also the city office either to get the necessary documents or the MNC.
That is irrelevant, your claim was that it was wrong to call it a city office, the own official site of the goverment calls it that way, That means it is not wrong but a perfectly valid way to call it in English.
gcFd1
False, because being on a yearly contract does not equal getting yearly visas.
And as taught to you earlier Ward offices handle MNCs too. Shinagawa's official government website even shows that it is a ward office in that district handling this. Trying to call a ward office a city office just displays a lack of understanding of Japan's culture and society.
virusrex
Well, you have still to bring any reference that no foreigner have to renew their visa yearly because of their also yearly contract. Without that evidence you would be wrong by calling this information false.
That is irrelevant, your claim was that it was wrong to call it a city office, the own official site of the goverment calls it that way, That means it is not wrong but a perfectly valid way to call it in English.
gcFd1
Why? You said all foreigners need to renew their visa if they are on one year contracts.
So, well, you have to bring evidence that is true, otherwise it means your initial comment is accepted as false by you; it is false to everyone else by the way.
Nope. Completely relevant. Call up the Shinagawa Ward Office. Ask if Shinagawa ward foreign residents would go to the 品川区役所 for MNC issues. Or, even better--call them and tell them they are wrong and that in fact it is a city office!
virusrex
False, that is your strawman (not all fallacies are hearsay, you know), I said foreigners in that situation do need to renew their visa with the same frequency, which is something common and that other people commenting also support. The claim that "all" must do it is completely from you.
Still completely irrelevant, if the own goverment says it is correct to call it this way that means your claim that this is wrong is false. You can't impose the way YOU like to call something as the only correct way to do it, if anything the goverment would be a much more valid reference for this, and they call it city office.
RKL
They absolutely do not need to do so. Common knowledge for foreigners in Japan.
That's basic knowledge too. It's a ward office. I confirmed with my Japanese friend. They laughed sbout the confusion some have over the ward-city issue.
virusrex
Well, you have still to bring any reference that no foreigner have to renew their visa yearly because of their also yearly contract. Without that evidence you would be wrong by calling this information false.
That is irrelevant, your claim was that it was wrong to call it a city office, the own official site of the goverment calls it that way, That means it is not wrong but a perfectly valid way to call it in English.