Crisis Management for a Conflict with North Korea

The Interpreter | English | AcademicThink | Dec. 5, 2025 | Regulation

Obtaining a police certificate in Japan, which proves a person’s criminal record status, remains a slow, analog, and bureaucratic process requiring institutional sponsorship, physical presence, and lengthy wait times. Unlike peer countries such as the United States, the UK, Singapore, and Australia, where citizens can often request such certificates online and receive results quickly, Japan mandates sealed paper documents that must be picked up in person without options for secure digital delivery or self-initiation.

This outdated system reflects broader issues of state capacity in Japan, where government administrative services lag behind private sector efficiency and international peers. The slow process affects Japanese citizens and foreigners alike, causing delays in job starts, visa applications, and professional licensing, which in turn impacts perceptions about the government’s effectiveness and competitiveness.

To modernize, Japan could implement five key reforms: allow citizen-initiated requests with basic certificates accessible to all residents, default to digital processes with online applications and digital signatures, set clear time targets and publish processing data for transparency, enable secure digital verification for third parties, and enforce strong privacy protections. These changes would align Japan with international standards and improve both administrative efficiency and public trust.

The article emphasizes that such reforms require no major political or financial upheaval but would provide a tangible improvement in everyday government services. Japan’s capacity to modernize exists, but the political will to prioritize administrative performance and citizen experience will determine if it can match its private sector’s precision and the progress made by regional competitors like Singapore and South Korea.