Japan still imposes floppy disks on its citizens far too often. But the 90s are over. Since 2022, the country has been launched into an offensive against this obsolete storage medium.
Japan may finally turn the page on the 1990s, burying floppy disks for good. In any case, the country has obviously taken the first step in digging the grave of this storage medium that is far too obsolete to continue to be used in the 21st century. Better late than never, says the adage.
Indeed, a press release from the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) reported a first government effort aimed at eliminating the administration’s floppy disks. Published on January 22, METI’s announcement was picked up by Japanese media, as well as English-language publications.
“The digital minister declares war on floppy disks”
Since 2022, the country has embarked on a policy of “ war on floppy disks », still too widely used locally, while many countries around the world have long since moved on to something else. The War Formula was thus used by Taro Kono, the minister in charge of digital and regulatory reforms:
“ The digital minister declares war on floppy disks. Around 1,900 procedures require companies to use disks, i.e. floppy disks, CDs, mini-discs, etc. to submit applications and other forms. The Digital Agency’s mission is to modify these regulations. »
A year and a half after this declaration, a first offensive took place. An operation of relatively modest scope, however. According to the METI announcement, 34 ordinances requiring the use of floppy disks have been removed. There is also talk of an unknown number of orders requiring the use of CD-ROMs.
At this rate, it will take decades for Japan to completely turn the page. However, we can bet on an acceleration of the transition in the years to come, especially since the production of disks ceased in 2011 and the stock available on the market becomes scarcer over time – which complicates the life of those administered. .
During a press conference organized at the time, Taro Kono and Fumio Kishida, the Prime Minister, in office since October 2021, clearly illustrated the problem by asking a simple question: “ Where can you buy a floppy disk these days? “. Even other more recent media, such as CDs or DVDs, are in decline.
Another problem: the generational divide. Younger people don’t know what it is and the use of the floppy disk as a backup symbol on the PC no longer makes any sense. However, we must recognize that here too, things are moving. Instead of the floppy disk, we increasingly see an icon with a downward arrow, to represent the download.
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