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News Summary
The following content was published online. A translated summary is presented below. See the source for details.
The Japanese government’s Digital Agency has been working to review “analog regulations” – rules that rely on analog methods such as in-person verification, physical certificates, and manual processes – as part of its efforts to realize a digital society. Recognizing that Japan’s population decline and aging will lead to labor shortages across industries, the government sees the need to promote digitalization and leverage digital technologies to improve productivity and automate tasks. This requires adapting regulations to enable the use of technology. Particularly at the local government level, where population decline and aging are progressing rapidly, reviewing analog regulations is crucial to maintain and strengthen essential public services with limited human resources.
Source: digital-gov
Our Commentary
Background and Context
Japan’s population decline and aging have become major challenges for the country, leading to labor shortages across various industries. To address this issue, the Japanese government has been actively promoting digitalization and the use of digital technologies to improve productivity and automate tasks. This transition, however, requires adapting existing regulations that often rely on analog methods such as in-person verification, physical certificates, and manual processes.
Expert Analysis
The Japanese government’s Digital Agency has recognized the importance of reviewing these “analog regulations” at the local government level, where population decline and aging are progressing rapidly. By modernizing these regulations, local governments can maintain and strengthen essential public services with limited human resources, ensuring that they can continue to serve their communities effectively in the digital age.
Key points:
- The Digital Agency has compiled basic information and case studies on reviewing analog regulations, developed a manual and tools to help local governments, provided individual support, and conducted a comprehensive survey on the status of analog regulation reviews across 1,788 local governments.
- As of March 2025, the survey found that many local governments have already completed or are in the process of reviewing their analog regulations, indicating significant progress in this area.
- The Digital Agency continues to promote and support these efforts to enable local governments to adapt to the digital age and maintain essential services for their communities.
Additional Data and Fact Reinforcement
The Digital Agency’s survey on the status of analog regulation reviews across 1,788 local governments (a 100% response rate) provides a comprehensive understanding of the progress being made in this area. The survey findings suggest that many local governments have already taken steps to modernize their analog regulations, demonstrating their commitment to adapting to the digital age and ensuring the continued delivery of essential public services.
- The Digital Agency’s efforts to provide guidance, tools, and individual support to local governments have been instrumental in driving this progress.
- By leveraging digital technologies and adapting regulations, local governments can improve productivity, automate tasks, and maintain services despite the challenges posed by population decline and aging.
- The comprehensive approach taken by the Digital Agency, including the collection of detailed data through the survey, highlights the government’s strategic focus on enabling local governments to transition to a digital society.
Related News
This news on the modernization of analog regulations in local governments is part of a broader nationwide effort to promote digitalization and leverage technology to address Japan’s demographic challenges. Other related initiatives include the government’s push for digital transformation in the private sector, investments in smart city development, and efforts to enhance digital literacy and skills among the population.
Summary
The Japanese government’s Digital Agency has been proactively supporting local governments in their efforts to review and modernize “analog regulations” – rules that rely on analog methods. This is a crucial step in enabling local governments to adapt to the digital age and maintain essential public services despite the challenges posed by population decline and aging. The Digital Agency’s comprehensive approach, including the development of guidance and tools, provision of individual support, and the conduct of a nationwide survey, has driven significant progress in this area, with many local governments already completing or in the process of reviewing their analog regulations. As the government continues to promote digitalization and leverage technology to address Japan’s demographic challenges, the modernization of analog regulations at the local level will be a key enabler of a more efficient and resilient public service delivery system.
