Oct 10 (NHK) - Japan's Justice Ministry is considering doing away with a requirement that people registering marriages or divorces must stamp documents with "hanko," or personal seals.
Justice Minister Kamikawa Yoko told reporters on Friday that the move is in line with efforts by the administration of Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide to review the heavy use of such seals for government documents.
Rules already allow marriage and divorce papers to be filed online if heads of municipalities approve. But no city, town or village in Japan has adopted the option, due to the need for digital certificates in place of seals.
Kamikawa said her ministry has 44 administrative procedures that require the use of seals, and is considering abolishing the rule for 35 of them.
She said the ministry will review the tradition of using personal seals, to improve convenience and efficiency.
Source: ANNnewsCH
