My Number Card Returns Hit 900,000 as Government Shelves Mandatory Plan

Approximately 900,000 Japanese citizens have returned their My Number Cards, signaling deep public distrust in the government’s flagship digital identity program. On July 21, 2026, the government shelved plans to make the cards mandatory, citing concerns about data security and limited practical utility. With 20 million people still refusing to obtain cards and existing cardholders returning them, the program faces a credibility crisis despite reaching an 83.4% ownership rate.

Why citizens are rejecting the My Number Card

Concerns over data security remain the primary barrier to adoption. Citizens cite past incidents of personal information leaks, communication failures, and system malfunctions as reasons to avoid or abandon the card. Even cardholders report frustration: during the 2024 Noto earthquake, the My Number Card proved unusable for disaster relief, undermining government claims about emergency utility. The card’s promised benefits, such as accessing resident records anywhere, remain limited because only about 70% of municipalities have implemented the necessary systems.

Government drops mandatory requirement after political pressure

The Liberal Democratic Party’s Digital Society Promotion Headquarters initially proposed making My Number Cards mandatory, arguing the move would improve government efficiency and enable faster emergency aid distribution. However, on July 21, the government’s “Priority Plan for Realizing a Digital Society” rejected mandatory adoption. Party officials stated that even if adoption became mandatory, no penalties would be imposed. The decision reflects political sensitivity around forced digital ID programs and public resistance to expanded government surveillance.

Limited killer features hinder voluntary adoption

A key problem is the absence of compelling reasons to obtain or keep the card. Lawyer Masako Mizumachi, a member of the Cabinet Office’s My Number utilization task force, acknowledged the program lacks “golden use cases” or killer content that would motivate citizens. Economist Hiroko Ogihara noted that promised conveniences often fail in practice: resident records cannot be obtained from all municipalities, and disaster response remains paper-based. Without a clear vision of future digital benefits, citizens see little incentive to embrace the system despite government promotion efforts.

Renewal bottlenecks add to public frustration

The My Number Card’s 10-year validity period means large-scale renewals are now beginning. Municipal government offices are already overwhelmed with renewal requests. Mizumachi reported waiting three months for her own card renewal, with processing times varying significantly by local government. This administrative chaos undermines confidence in the system’s reliability and raises questions about whether the government can manage even voluntary adoption, let alone a mandatory program.

Final Thoughts

The My Number Card’s rejection by 900,000 cardholders and the government’s abandonment of mandatory plans expose fundamental flaws in Japan’s digital identity strategy. Without clearer benefits and restored public trust, voluntary adoption will likely plateau well below the government’s targets.

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