In the latest stumble for the government’s My Number Card system, a large number of cards were linked to a different person’s bank account for receiving public money, such as cash handouts.
“Hanko” personal seals will no longer be required on marriage and divorce notification forms but are likely to be kept as an option. (Toshiki Horigome)
The central government has resigned itself to realizing that its effort to pry hanko out of the public s hands is unlikely to succeed anytime soon.
So, it has decided to keep allowing the use of the personal seals, though they ll no longer be mandatory.
The space on marriage, divorce and other forms to be submitted to authorities for people to stamp their hanko will likely stay. The compromise comes despite the government s push to eliminate requirements for hanko from administrative formalities.