Japan has finally caught up with modern times by scrapping all regulations requiring the use of floppy disks for administrative purposes. The outdated storage devices, which were once ubiquitous in computing, have been replaced by more advanced technology such as flash drives and cloud storage.
The country’s journey to eliminate floppy disks began in recent years, when Digital Minister Taro Kono declared a “war on floppy disks.” The effort culminated in the removal of over 1,000 regulations mandating the use of these disks, with the last rule related to the recycling of used vehicles repealed on June 28th.
Despite these advancements, some sectors in Japan, such as the textile industry in Kyoto and a regional bank in Kyushu, still heavily rely on floppy disks for daily operations. The push to modernize these industries continues, with efforts to transition to more efficient digital platforms.
Looking ahead, Mr. Kono has set his sights on another outdated technology in Japan – fax machines. He recommends shifting to email for faster communication and improved efficiency. While some resistance remains in certain sectors, the overall trend is clear – Japan is moving towards embracing modern technology and leaving floppy disks behind.
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