Final number…
I am not a fan of the system as I currently understand it. The UK has a National Insurance number that is used for tax purposes, but doesn’t have photo ID cards with chips, nor does it attach the number to bank accounts, hospital records, or shopping.
The Japanese government is taking the scope of the system much broader in a very short time frame, seemingly without the understanding or consent of its citizens. I am worried about just how far that might be.
Having said that, I do like the fact that they printed my alias (Japanese name in kanji) on the card. It was taken off my zairyuu card (used to be on the alien registration card) so I am happy to see it back on official ID.
Despite this, I do not intend to apply for a photo My Number card.
It appears that currently there are no formal penalties for refusing to use your My Number (that was a bit painful to type!), making it similar to NHK payments in that regard.
I was briefly tempted to venture into nonviolent resistance by refusing to provide it to my employer and banks, but have decided to comply with the compulsory aspects of the new system.
I feel it is not really my place as a non-Japanese to engage in this kind of resistance, especially at work. I do hope that many Japanese people will do this and thus undermine the system, but will not be joining them at this time.
I also will not be doing anything that is not required. I will not be applying for the photo card and will certainly refuse to provide the number to anyone other than my employer and maybe my bank (I will see how many times they remind me to provide it and how close they get to closing my account as a penalty).
How about you? Any thoughts on the My Number system?
“I feel it is not really my place as a non-Japanese to engage in this kind of resistance, especially at work”
I’ve felt the same several times back when I was in Japan. There are things I strongly disagree with, but fighting them as a gaijin is sending the wrong message in many cases. Unfortunately.
Hi SB
Yeah, if I did refuse to comply, it would probably come across as ‘this person doesn’t understand the system’ or ‘this person is difficult and doesn’t fit in’ as opposed to the message I would like to convey. For a Japanese national there would be fewer mixed messages so non-compliance would make a clearer point.
Hey Ben,
I don’t really have a lot of thoughts on the system currently, due to lack of information I guess. So thanks very much for these posts, very informative. Australia has a Tax File Number system which was introduced about 20 years ago and for similar reasons I imagine (to avoid tax evasion, particularly in industries where it is more prevelant). While I think that as you say, the use of the TFN in Australia is not as broad spanning and seems to be less invasive than the proposed system in Japan, it seems to have been integrated quite smoothly and effectively over there. Change is always scary and we’ll have to wait and see how it pans out I guess. I haven’t actually received mine yet, neither have any of my employees. Thanks again for the great posts.
Hi Greg
Thanks for the kind words! I guess we can’t really do much apart from wait and see how things develop. I hope the Japanese public will push back against the mission creep in the system (like they did with Jyuki-net) and prevent this from being too intrusive.
cheers