Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga instructed his government Wednesday to draw up plans to stop using hanko seals on administrative documents, a tradition that has been criticized as outdated and necessitating face-to-face interaction that risks spreading the coronavirus.
The move, part of Suga’s push to improve bureaucratic efficiency, is expected to lead to more government services becoming available online.
“I want all ministries to compile a comprehensive review of their administrative procedures in the near future,” Suga told a meeting of the Council for Promotion of Regulatory Reform, an advisory panel of members from the private sector and academics.