Incredible, but true: the Japanese government has finally scrapped the use of floppy disks in many administrative processes. This marks another step in the digital transformation of an administration that is surprisingly resistant to change.

Who would have thought it? It has taken until 2024 for the Japanese government to finally consign its last floppy disks to the shelf. The last remaining regulations governing their use have been abolished, and as of June 28, floppy disks are no longer required for any administrative processes in the country. In addition to floppy disks, these regulations also apply to CD-ROMs.

Technologically, the idea of using of floppy disks in certain processes until very recently is quite astounding, if only because of their very limited storage capacity and often uncertain reliability. And it's all the more incredible due to the fact that no floppy disks have been manufactured since 2011.

It appears that the Japanese are rather reluctant to change, and it took all the tenacity of Digital Minister Taro Kono - who has made modernising the administration his mission - for this obsolete technology to finally be consigned to history.

Things came to a head during the Covid-19 pandemic, when many services were brought to a standstill due to the use of this outdated technology. But the transition to all-digital technology is not going to happen overnight in Japan. Indeed, the adoption of a brand-new digital identity card is proving slower than expected, despite it being designed to simplify the lives of citizens.

Japan is slowly but surely modernising its government. One remaining step is to eliminate the use of fax machines.

 - AFP Relaxnews