The Digital Agency announced on October 19, 2026 that it has updated its explanatory documentation on the MyNumber system, including materials on information-sharing (joho renkei) between administrative bodies ^[1]. The agency describes the MyNumber system as infrastructure meant to improve convenience for residents and the efficiency of administration, with the 12-digit number assigned to all residents with a registered residence in Japan used for procedures set out in laws or ordinances covering social security, taxation and disaster response ^[1].

Through information-sharing, government agencies exchange data needed for administrative procedures via a dedicated network system, which can reduce the documents residents need to submit for various procedures ^[1]. The agency updated, on October 19, 2026, a list of procedures eligible for information-sharing and the documents that can be omitted as a result, along with a reference list of procedures currently in trial operation for this sharing ^[1]. The agency advises that for details on individual procedures, residents should check the pamphlets and websites of their local government or the relevant administrative body ^[1].

The update also covers two related schemes. The public funds receiving account registration system allows residents to voluntarily register one bank account, in their own name, with the Digital Agency for receiving benefit payments and similar funds; an account registered for a child cannot be in a parent's name, and only one account per person can be registered ^[1]. Separately, the bank account numbering system is a distinct scheme under which residents notify financial institutions of their MyNumber, allowing the location of numbered accounts to be confirmed at a single financial institution counter in the event of inheritance or disaster, and the agency stresses this is different from the public funds receiving account system ^[1].

On security, the agency says institutional safeguards include restrictions on collecting or storing MyNumber-linked personal information except where legally specified, oversight by the Personal Information Protection Commission, penalties for violations, and required identity checks when a MyNumber is provided, with residents able to check the history of information exchanges about them via Mynaportal ^[1]. System-level safeguards include keeping personal data managed separately across agencies (for example, pension data at pension offices and local tax data at municipalities) rather than centrally, and using dedicated codes instead of the MyNumber itself when agencies share information over encrypted, access-restricted systems ^[1]. The agency also reiterated warnings about scams exploiting the MyNumber system and pointed to consumer affairs and police consultation channels ^[1]. A 2025 law revision expanding the scope of procedures that can use MyNumber was also referenced ^[1].

Source credit 出典：「マイナンバー制度における制度解説の情報連携に係る資料を更新しました」（デジタル庁）（https://www.digital.go.jp/policies/mynumber/explanation）、PDL1.0（https://www.digital.go.jp/resources/open_data/public_data_license_v1.0）を加工してJapan News (j.apan.news)が作成 This article is Japan News's own English summary of the Japanese original. It has been translated and edited by Japan News; it is not an official translation, and the Digital Agency did not write or review it.