My Number 2

The numbering

This is an eye-opening interview/discussion in English of the My Number system. Well worth an hour of your time.

Some key points:

1. the My Number system is much much bigger than I thought it was. Think Big Brother on steroids
2. the main purpose is to cut down on tax evasion and asset hiding, but it’s going to impact government services in a major way
3. I can’t believe the Japanese public isn’t kicking up a huge fuss over this
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Michael Cucek also has a wonderful blog on Japanese politics.

Any thoughts???

3 Responses

  1. Great video.
    Random thoughts:
    The mention of the Burakumin warrants a comparison with the Jews during WWII, and how Europe has legislation that prevents storing religious or other discriminatory traits in databases. Looks like some dangerous use of the number if information of where you live for example, can be gathered through this number.
    With that being said, I’ve complained so many times about having to carry my stamp with me everywhere I go, having to write down sh!t manually all the time, that I’ll welcome the additional convenience.
    The finance ministry’s plan about the VAT on food is so unnecessarily complex it’s hilarious. As Cucek states, it’s designed to be rejected.
    Having worked in Japan as a software Engineer, I do not trust the JP government to store this number and associated information securely.

  2. Do you think it means everywhere taking cash will have to have a reader – all the gesshabukuro places etc? If I need to scan a number every time students bring the fee, will definitely just change to a bank transfer system!

  3. Well, as they said in the video the scheme seems so unworkable it may well be scrapped.
    Also, the only reason to scan your card when shopping is if you buy something with a lower tax rate (a limited number of food items, I think). Eikaiwa fees are probably going to be unaffected.
    Plus, the tax rebate is capped at 4,000 yen a month.
    I certainly won’t be applying for a card, nor would I present one when asked without good reason (I don’t need 2% cashback on small amounts of shopping).
    We’ll see how it plays out. I think for now it should be okay. Still recommend bank withdrawals though 😉