Hanko is ubiquitous in Japanese society, used in at least 10,000 government processes, including driver’s license applications and tax returns. Its use is mandated by law in some of these cases, and even when there is no legal obligation, the practice is so ingrained that it is often a de facto requirement.
Despite the widespread implementation of work-from-home measures amid the coronavirus pandemic, the use of hanko has persisted, with many people saying they still have to go into the office to stamp seals on documents.
The government has responded by vowing to proceed with reforms by the end of the year, and major businesses are also implementing their own efforts. Beverage giant Suntory and e-commerce company Mercari are among the firms that have announced they are taking steps to reduce hanko use. Some banks, including Mizuho, are switching to online lending contracts that will not require the seals.
But difficult situations remain. The use of Hanko is so ingrained in some areas of the country that many municipalities mistakenly use it as a requirement for certain types of official documents.
For example, running parents must provide what is known as a “certificate of employment” when applying for a childcare location for their children. The federal government, and in particular the Council for Regulatory Reform, has categorically stated that hanko is not for such forms, even sending a message reminding the local government of this fact last month. However, many municipal governments still require the corporate seal as part of the application.
The situation illustrates that other forms of verification, such as electronic signatures, may need to be more widely accepted in order to wean some parts of Japanese society off their hanko dependency.
Minister of Economic Revitalization Nishimura Yasutoshi spoke at a press conference on July 26 and said that companies are expanding work-from-home measures and staggering work schedules to prevent the spread of the virus. In view of the immediate increase in the number of infections, the aim is to promote the review of administrative practices, such as the use of hanko, to align business processes with these measures.