Japan opens My Number Card to private app integration by Toshiba in digital ID shift

Japan is expanding its national digital identity system, authorizing Toshiba Digital Engineering Corporation to install applications in the unused space of the My Number Card’s IC chip.

The government notice, issued under the Number Act’s enforcement rules, allows regulated private‑sector applications to run on the card. This suggests a shift towards a more versatile, platform‑style digital ID.

Private organizations can deploy applications that support administrative and office‑related functions using the card’s free chip space without changing its core identity features.

The law requires a formal public notice from both the Prime Minister and the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications. Toshiba is now the designated operator for this next phase of My Number Card development.

The number of private sector companies that have introduced Japanese Public Key Infrastructure (JPKI) continues to rise, with the number at 892 companies as of January 31. Many companies use the My Number Card’s identity verification functionality, such as for account openings for banks, subscriptions or membership card applications.

Japan’s finance and insurance services are using digital identity for secure online bank account onboarding and the signing of insurance contracts, while the information and IT services sector is using digital ID and personal data lockers to give users tighter control over their information.

In retail and reuse markets, digital identity supports age checks for rentals and identity verification for high‑value luxury item auctions. Emergency and local services are also using digital ID for faster check‑ins at disaster evacuation centers and smoother reservations for public facilities, for the earthquake and typhoon-prone country.

The financial sector is a big implementer of JPKI. The country’s household e-commerce player, Rakuten — considered the “Amazon of Japan” — is another significant implementer. Japan Post, NTT Docomo, NTT Data Corporation, NEC and even the Pokemon Company are other notable names to have introduced JPKI using My Number Card. Japan’s Digital Agency has a full list here along with several case studies.

Digital ID system maturity lifts OECD DGI score

Japan is recording some of the strongest improvements among OECD countries in digital government performance. In the 2025 OECD Digital Government Index, Japan is highlighted as one of the most improved countries overall alongside Chile, Costa Rica and Portugal.

Its score in the Government as a Platform dimension rose from 0.50 to 0.77, reflecting progress in building shared digital infrastructure — an area that connects directly to expanding My Number Card capabilities. Japan also advanced significantly in the User‑driven dimension, climbing from 0.44 to 0.69, one of the largest increases among OECD members.

Japan’s progress is equally visible in open‑data policy. In the 2025 OURdata Index, the country’s score jumped from 0.37 to 0.66, placing it among the top ten performers. The most dramatic improvement came in data accessibility, where Japan rose from 0.24 to 0.77 — one of the largest gains recorded. Japan also improved sharply in the pillar measuring open‑data engagement and re‑use, increasing from 0.37 to 0.65.

Japan is undertaking a coordinated national effort to modernize digital identity, expand data infrastructure and strengthen citizen‑centric digital services. The authorization granted to Toshiba suggests Japan is preparing the My Number Card to evolve into a broader digital identity platform.

Article Topics

digital government  |  digital ID  |  government services  |  Japan  |  My Number  |  national ID  |  OECD DGI  |  Toshiba