Vancouver, British Columbia – Amicus International Consulting publishes an in-depth briefing on Japan’s My Number Card program, with a special focus on its integration into healthcare, its growing role in local services, and the national push toward a fully digital society.
The My Number system, launched in 2016, has steadily matured from a narrowly defined tax and social security identifier into a comprehensive national identity instrument. Today, the My Number Card represents Japan’s most ambitious attempt to unify public administration, healthcare access, and local services under a single framework.
Origins of the My Number System
Japan introduced the My Number system to address fragmentation within the government. Previously, individuals had to juggle multiple identifiers for taxes, pensions, social insurance, and resident registration. By assigning a 12-digit My Number to every citizen and foreign resident, authorities created a single reference point.
The physical My Number Card includes personal details, a photo, and an embedded IC chip. It is accepted as official ID and allows digital authentication via PIN codes or biometric checks. While initial adoption was slow (critics cited privacy concerns and unclear benefits), the government gradually expanded use cases, making the card more practical in daily life.
Healthcare Integration
The most visible evolution of My Number is its integration with healthcare. In 2021, Japan began linking the card with national health insurance certificates. By presenting a My Number Card at hospitals, clinics, or pharmacies, patients can instantly verify both their identity and insurance eligibility. This eliminates the need for separate paper insurance cards.
Health linkages also allow patients to access their prescription histories, insurance claims, and medical information online. The My Number Portal, accessible through secure login, serves as the central hub for viewing this information. Hospitals benefit from reduced paperwork, and insurers can more easily coordinate reimbursements.
Authentication combines card reading, PIN input, and increasingly facial recognition. Pharmacies and hospitals report fewer duplicate prescriptions, less fraud, and faster intake processes.
Case Study: Patient Convenience
A Tokyo patient with multiple chronic conditions used to bring separate paper certificates to each clinic. After activating her My Number Card for health use, she presented a single card. Her prescription was automatically updated in her digital record, which is viewable on her portal account. When visiting another hospital, staff instantly accessed her verified insurance details, saving time and reducing duplication.
Expansion Into Local Services
Municipalities are now using My Number Cards for daily local services. Citizens can:
- Print residence certificates and tax documents at convenience stores.
- Access welfare programs and child allowance applications online.
- Verify identity for library cards, public facility rentals, and community center memberships.
- Receive digital certificates for business licensing and local taxation.
Local governments see the card as an efficiency tool. Instead of visiting city halls, residents authenticate at kiosks or convenience store terminals. Rural municipalities particularly benefit, as residents save on the time spent traveling.
Case Study: Rural Municipality Efficiency
In a rural prefecture, kiosks installed in convenience stores allowed citizens to obtain certificates using their My Number Card. Elderly residents reported relief at not needing to travel to city offices. The system also reduced administrative backlogs, allowing staff to redirect their efforts toward community programs.
Privacy Safeguards
Centralization of identity raised concerns about data misuse. The Japanese government responded with measures:
- My Number Cards do not display the 12-digit number, limiting exposure.
- Databases remain decentralized; health, tax, and pension agencies retain separate storage.
- Access requires multi-factor authentication, and all access events are logged.
- Citizens can check usage logs via the online portal.
Strict penalties apply for unauthorized use. These measures aim to strike a balance between utility and citizen trust.
Broader Digital Transformation
The government’s goal is near-universal adoption by the end of the decade. Strategies include:
- Driver’s License Integration: Plans to merge driver’s licenses with My Number Cards, reducing duplicate IDs.
- Digital Certificates: Enabling tax filings, property transactions, and business registrations via card authentication.
- Banking and Telecom: Encouraging banks and telecom providers to accept the card for KYC verification.
- Private Sector Integration: Expanding use for digital payments, ticketing, and account verification.
Japan envisions My Number as the linchpin of a fully digital society.
Case Study: University Enrollment
At a national university, students used My Number Cards to complete tuition payments, scholarship applications, and insurance sign-ups. Instead of submitting multiple paper documents, their card authenticated all processes. Enrollment processing time dropped significantly.
Disaster Response Applications
The My Number system also strengthens crisis management.
Case Study: Disaster Relief
Following a flood, municipalities utilized My Number data to identify residents in affected areas quickly. Those with My Number Cards received emergency welfare payments more quickly, as eligibility was verified digitally; this streamlined disaster aid delivery and reduced the risk of fraud.
Adoption Trends and Challenges
Government campaigns and subsidies have raised adoption rates. By mid-2025, more than 70 percent of residents had obtained a My Number Card, though disparities remain among the elderly and rural populations.
Challenges include:
- Digital Divide: Older citizens are less likely to activate digital features.
- Privacy Skepticism: Some remain wary of centralized oversight.
- System Glitches: Early rollouts were marred by technical errors, which eroded public trust.
Overcoming these challenges requires user education, strong cybersecurity measures, and visible benefits.
Case Study: Elderly Resident Support
In Osaka, a city program trained volunteers to assist elderly citizens in registering and activating their cards. Participants later reported smoother hospital check-ins and easier pension procedures. The hands-on support reduced skepticism and improved adoption.
Local Service Innovation
Cities are piloting creative uses:
- Community centers issue temporary passes via card authentication.
- Libraries use the card for faster registration of borrowers.
- Test integration for senior passes and commuter benefits in transportation systems.
As municipalities embrace digitalization, My Number Cards are becoming essential to everyday civic life.
Case Study: Smart City Integration
In Yokohama, the card was linked to an innovative city initiative. Residents authenticated with their My Number Card to access e-bike rentals, community Wi-Fi, and discounted local transport. Adoption surged, demonstrating how municipal services can drive everyday use.
Comparisons with Other Systems
Japan’s approach contrasts with other national identity programs.
- EU Digital Identity Wallet: Focused on data minimization and selective disclosure, while Japan’s system emphasizes service integration.
- India’s Aadhaar: Biometric-centric with near-universal coverage, though privacy debates mirror those in Japan.
- Mexico’s RENAPO: Anchored by CURP, similar in concept but less integrated into healthcare and local services.
Japan’s model seamlessly integrates traditional ID cards with digital authentication, gradually incorporating them into daily services.
Looking Ahead
By 2030, Japan aims to fully integrate My Number into healthcare, driver licensing, taxation, and banking. Universal adoption could reshape public service delivery.
The key test will be citizen trust. Demonstrating benefits, such as faster healthcare, quicker disaster aid, and simpler local services, must outweigh concerns over privacy and centralization.
Amicus International Consulting Perspective
Amicus International Consulting identifies several takeaways:
- Integration Drives Adoption: When citizens see clear benefits, such as healthcare convenience or disaster relief, adoption rises.
- Decentralization Matters: Keeping databases separate mitigates privacy risks.
- Local Partnerships Are Critical: Municipal and private partnerships expand card use beyond government offices.
- Digital Divide Solutions: Education and support programs help reduce barriers for the elderly and rural populations.
- Crisis Readiness: Identity systems enhance disaster response when designed for resilience.
Japan’s My Number Card is becoming a foundation for a digital society. By expanding linkages into healthcare and local services, the system demonstrates how identity tools can transition from administrative abstraction to an everyday necessity.
Contact Information
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Email: info@amicusint.ca
Website: www.amicusint.ca
