Japanese Bureaucracy: a bit unexpected

The Japanese have a reputation for their love of paper administration, and I’ve certainly experienced this firsthand since relocating here.

Recently, I faced the task of unlocking the PIN code for my MyNumber card. The MyNumber card (マイナンバーカード) is a national identification card linked to Japan’s social security and tax number system, introduced in 2016. It serves as a multifunctional tool for identity verification and accessing various government and private services.

To unlock the PIN, I had to visit my local municipality office. Of course, that meant filling out paperwork, which I could only decipher with Google Translate. Thankfully, a public servant assisted me in navigating through the forms and unlocking the pin took less than 10 minutes. While I understand the necessity of written applications, it seems odd that, in a country where apps, smartphones, and QR codes dominate many aspects of daily life, governmental institutions cling to paper.

However, today I was astonished by a different kind of bureaucracy. Hiromi cracked her iPhone 7 Plus screen, so we headed to the mall for repairs. In the Netherlands, I’ve had several screens fixed easily: I would show my device to the repair person, pay the fee, and be done. But in Hiromi’s case, we confronted a checklist of about 10 disclaimers that required our attention before her iPhone could be taken in for repairs. We spent nearly 20 minutes waiting while the repair staff explained every point to ensure Hiromi understood the terms and conditions. To my surprise, this process took longer than unlocking my MyNumber card.

While this was somewhat coincidental, it challenges the assumption that governmental institutions are always slower in processing applications. It’s fascinating—and a bit surprising—to witness how different sectors manage their procedures.

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