Latest news with #MyNumberCard
Finextra
29-07-2025
- Business
- Finextra
Fime introduces My Number Card suite in Japan
Fime Digital My Number Card suite is part of the broader Fime Digital Identity Japan initiative to advance secure and scalable mobile eID adoption. 0 This content is provided by an external author without editing by Finextra. It expresses the views and opinions of the author. The new test suite promotes interoperability and trust in Japan's digital credential ecosystem by validating vendor solutions against national and international standards and supporting the Japanese language. This will enable vendors to validate their solutions against both international and national requirements for device-to-device data transfer. This reinforces Japan's leadership in secure, user-centric identity verification while advancing interoperability and user adoption. The My Number Card can be used to access administrative services and validate identity using stored credentials including the holder's name, birthdate, and a photograph. To support Japan's transition from physical to digital credentials on smartphones, Fime has developed a tool that enables interoperable and scalable testing of mobile solutions for local use cases including retail, travel, and healthcare. This builds on Fime's global role in digital identity programs, reinforcing its leadership in trusted, inclusive eID ecosystems. 'At Fime, we see digital identity not just as a technology, but as a foundation for inclusive, secure digital societies,' comments James Daniels, SVP Asia Pacific at Fime. 'Our work to support the My Number Card reflects our expertise in helping turn complex global standards into tangible, interoperable solutions that scale. By equipping vendors with cutting-edge test tools and expert guidance, we help accelerate innovation, establish trust and support compliance — essential ingredients for the future adoption of digital identity.' Fime's Digital Identity Reader Test Suite supports conformance validation and has been key to aligning the My Number Card framework with the ISO/IEC 18013-5:2021 standard. Fime's Digital Identity solutions are helping to augment and accelerate the roll-outs of secure digital identity initiatives worldwide in compliance with local and regional requirements. Fime's expert consultants are also supporting vendors in the development, enhancement and successful certification of products.
Japan Today
10-07-2025
- Business
- Japan Today
How to apply for gov't subsidies in Japan for housing, healthcare and childcare
By Elizabeth Sok With prices on the rise, everyone could use a little extra financial help. GaijinPot can help you save cash by showing you birthday freebies or even finding better work on GaijinPot Jobs—but we can't hand you cash. Thankfully, there are a ton of government subsidies in Japan offering real financial support for housing, childcare, healthcare, and more. Luckily, whether you're moving to another prefecture, planning on starting a family or just lost your job, the Japanese government provides subsidies to ease your financial burden. We've compiled a list of government subsidies offered nationwide, but the benefits don't stop there as prefectures and even cities can provide their own additional financial aid. For example, while Fukuoka City now completely subsidizes elementary school lunches, Kitakyushu City, also located in the prefecture, does not. Also, many subsidies vary depending on where you live, so be sure to look around locally. Living and Housing Subsidies Dreaming of moving to the countryside? With housing costs taking up as much as 30% of your monthly salary and moving to Japan being expensive, it helps to have some financial help when you need it. Housing Security Benefit Individuals who have become unemployed or are facing a decrease in their monthly income may be eligible for a Housing Security Benefit (住居確保給付金, jyuukyo kakuho kyufukin) to cover part of their housing costs. Subsidies are paid directly to the landlord and can be renewed every three months for a maximum of nine months. Benefits The amount of financial support you can receive varies across Japan. Also, it depends on how many people are living within a household and your recent household income. For example, here are the highest monthly subsidies available for people living in Tokyo's Minato Ward: Single-person household : ¥69,800 : ¥69,800 Two-person household : ¥75,000 : ¥75,000 Three-person household : ¥81,000 : ¥81,000 Four-person household: ¥86,000 For more information Visit your local municipal office to inquire about rental subsidies. There are many documents you may need to present, including (but not limited to): Official pieces of identification, such as your My Number Card and Residence Card. Proof you have been terminated from your previous job or that your business has closed. Official documents stating a required leave of absence. A copy of your housing contract. Copies of utility bills. Moving to the countryside The government subsidizes relocation to less-populated prefectures in an effort to slow Tokyo's population growth. This is part of a broader strategy to counter Tokyo's overpopulation and support regional revival. If you're considering relocating, check local municipal programs and support services like the Hometown Return Support Center for eligibility specifics and application details. Benefits It depends on how many people are relocating. If you are single, you are eligible to receive ¥600,000, while a household can get up to ¥1,000,000. If you have children under the age of 18, they may also receive ¥1,000,000 each. For more information Running for over 20 years, Hometown Return Support Center (ふるさと回帰支援センター, Furusato Kaiki Shien Sentaa) is the most popular non-profit organization that collaborates with local governments to bring new residents to places outside the big cities. To qualify, you must start an application with Hometown Return Support Center or another government-recognized group offering similar services. Additional requirements may include: Finding a job before moving Working remotely with your current job (if applicable) Starting your own business Family and Childcare Subsidies Japan's government is begging you to have children. Raising a family is expensive, from clothing and food to education and health care. The Japanese government offers several subsidies to parents, partly in hopes of improving the country's falling birthrate. Child allowance The child allowance (児童手当, jido teate) is an allowance available for families with at least one child under the age of 19. Benefits Payments are on every even-numbered month. The subsidy amount depends on the age of your children and how many you have. For more information Visit your local municipal office or apply online via the Benefits section of the My Number Portal (scroll down to 児童手当に関する申請 to apply for the child allowance). Lump-sum Allowance for Childbirth Expectant mothers enrolled in the National Health Insurance Plan are eligible to receive the Lump-sum Allowance for Childbirth (出産一時金, Shussan ichiji kin), a one-time subsidy to cover all or most of the costs of childbirth. Benefits The subsidy is ¥500,000. According to a 2023 study by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, the cost of giving birth in Japan ranges from around ¥350,000 to over ¥600,000. The exact amount depends on the prefecture, the type of birthing facility, and the kind of delivery. The government usually pays the subsidy directly to the facility where you give birth. For more information In most cases, you can apply directly through your birthing facility. Single-parent support The Japanese government provides several support programs for single-parent households that cover everything from housing to education. Benefits The main subsidy is the Child Support Allowance (児童扶養手当, jido fuyo teate), which offers financial assistance for raising children until March 31st after they turn 18. The amount depends on the parents' income. It can be up to nearly ¥50,000 per month for the first child, and around ¥10,000 or less for each additional child. Payments are deposited every even-numbered month. For more information Visit your local municipal office and apply. Healthcare Subsidies Click here to read more. External Link © GaijinPot
Asahi Shimbun
10-06-2025
- Business
- Asahi Shimbun
LDP, Komeito revive plan for cash handouts as election nears
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, right, president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, meets with Tetsuo Saito, leader of junior coalition partner Komeito, in May. (Asahi Shimbun file photo) Cash handouts versus tax cuts. The ruling coalition and the opposition bloc have settled on differing policies to help the public deal with the rising cost of living, the likely main issue in the Upper House election next month. The Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner, Komeito, plan to include the cash handouts in the government's economic measures as well as in their common campaign pledges for the Upper House election, senior government officials said. At a meeting in Tokyo on June 10, the secretaries-general and other officials of the coalition parties decided that their policy research councils will discuss the amount and other details of the proposed benefits. Coalition officials have floated the idea of offering tens of thousands of yen per person without setting income limits, and financing the program with a surplus in fiscal 2024 tax revenues, sources said. The handouts are expected to be provided in cash or through the Myna Point program, which is linked to the government's My Number Card (Individual Number Card) system, to prioritize speedy rollouts, the sources said. The LDP and Komeito had discussed a plan to give about 50,000 yen ($345) per person in cash handouts in April but eventually scrapped the idea after being criticized by the public as engaging in a dole-out policy. Calls for reconsidering the cash benefits grew within the ruling coalition when the opposition parties started promising to reduce the consumption tax rate. LDP leaders have ruled out the possibility of a consumption tax cut as an Upper House election pledge, forcing Komeito to drop the tax reduction from the list of its priority policies. Komeito already listed the provision of 'livelihood support benefits,' which would return increased tax revenues to the public, as one of its priority policies announced on June 6. The Upper House election is expected to be held on July 20, with official campaigning likely to kick off on July 3.
Japan Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Singapore envoy eyes stronger cyber and digital links with Japan
Cybersecurity and digitalization are among five key areas where Japan and Singapore plan to take relations to fresh highs next year as the partners look to step up cooperation on emerging technologies such as quantum computing, according to the city-state's envoy to Tokyo. 'When it comes to cybersecurity, there are so many different areas that you can look at,' Ambassador Ong Eng Chuan said in an interview with The Japan Times ahead of the two countries' 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2026. 'While today is artificial intelligence, tomorrow we're looking at the possibility of quantum technology, taking it a step further,' he said, noting that post-quantum cryptography — the development cryptographic systems designed to be secure against both quantum and classical computers — 'is going to create a whole new set of challenges and opportunities.' Ong said Singapore hopes to 'collaborate closely' with Japan in this area 'because the country is already developing that technical capability. He pointed to the work being done by Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, which is working with Intel on a next-general silicon quantum computer. The ambassador said Japan and Singapore plan to use the 2026 anniversary 'as a benchmark to upgrade our relationship,' noting that the partners also aim to deepen collaboration in the areas of trade and the economy, sustainability and climate change, defense and security and people-to-people exchanges. One important and overlooked area of cooperation is how Singapore, which has a Ministry of Digital Development and Information, is often seen as a model for Tokyo's transition to a digital economy, especially as Japan continues to lag behind others, ranking 31st in an international comparison of digital competitiveness conducted last year. Singapore, which ranked No. 1 in the same survey, has been working for at least a decade to become a "smart nation" by leveraging technology to improve different areas such as government, infrastructure and the economy. That drive is supported by a large contingent of government IT engineers, compared with that of Japan — a country of over 120 million people as opposed to Singapore's 6 million. This includes digitalizing government services, with Singaporeans now using apps such as SingPass or LifeSG that enable them to not only have a digital ID card but also interact with the government electronically and access services such as applying for passports, birth certificates and driver licenses from anywhere. Japan, which has sent teams to examine Singapore's approach, is believed to have taken inspiration from the city-state when it began integrating its health insurance card into the My Number Card last year. 'Japan is a very advanced country when it comes to technology, but it's more in terms of the implementation that I think we can share a little bit of our experience,' Ong said. 'So maybe once there is more collaboration in that area, more examples of successes in Singapore, people may be more open to see the conveniences that such technologies can bring to their lives,' he added. 'And I think once that happens, Japan will be an even more efficient country.'
