One Step Closer To A National Identity Card

[Mulboyne]

Yomiuri: 1 card combining insurance, pension proposed
The functions of the nation's current health insurance card, nursing care insurance card and pension record book might be integrated into a single "social security card," according to a report released at a Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry committee of experts meeting Thursday. Use of a single social security number, an idea that had been under consideration, is expected to be shelved, officials at the meeting said. Instead, a computer-readable integrated circuit card would be introduced allowing access to an individual's pension and various insurance data via links to the relevant databases, the officials said. Based on the report, the health ministry will carry out trial testing in several municipalities within the current fiscal year in accordance with the ministry's plans to introduce the social security card in fiscal 2011...According to the report, the proposed IC card would allow access to pension records and health checkup results via personal computers and other means. The card would also be used for health and nursing care insurance purposes...Officials at the meeting said the planned IC card would utilize secure encryption technology to identify individuals. Data access to personal records would be recorded, restricting unauthorized use of the card by people other than the individual cardholder...more...

[IkemenTommy]

I hope it also has Taspo and SUICA built in.

[Doctor Stop]

A built-in Bic Camera/Yodobashi Camera card would be useful. We could get points each time we go to the doctor's office.

[Mulboyne]

Since Japanese people all look the same, some local councils have decided to issue cards which identify people by their pets.

[Level3]

All I worry about is whether I can still get away with only paying my health insurance and not throwing away money into the doomed pension system.
I've already paid 3 years in, and that's all we gaijin can get back when we leave, I won't (can't afford to anyway) pay any more until they actually threaten to jail all us delinquents [aren't there millions of younger people and freeters who don't or can't pay the pension bill?]

Besides, the penalty for not paying pensions is to pay up to 2 years back payments. Since a whole slew of politicians got to use that rule and only pay 2 back years after decades of dodging the payments, saving themselves millions of yen, it sounds like a good plan to me.

Will unifying the card mean unifying the payments, too?
Will it mean one more step closer to the various government ministries entering the 1980s [30 years late] and actually coordinating their info instead of everything being kept in manilla folders, handwritten, with the proper rubber stamps?

As of now, we only have to prove we've paid our taxes and have a job or whatever when getting a new visa, what if we also have to prove we're paying kenko hoken and pension?

[Greji]

I've already paid 3 years in, and that's all we gaijin can get back when we leave, I won't (can't afford to anyway) pay any more until they actually threaten to jail all us delinquents [aren't there millions of younger people and freeters who don't or can't pay the pension bill?]

That's not quite true. Any money you pay to that account is credited to your social security account after you leave Japan if you are from a country who has a treaty on social security with Japan. You will be eligible to have it calculated into your eventual retirement in either country.

[Mulboyne]

I hope it also has Taspo and SUICA built in.

Looks like you were thinking along the right lines:
Mainichi: Tobacco industry body releasing personal info from taspo card holders to police without warrants

The cigarette industry body has provided personal information on the holders of "taspo" age-verifying cards for vending machines to law enforcers, it has emerged. The Tokyo-based Tobacco Institute of Japan has denied any privacy concerns, despite not being legally required to give out the information. "We respond to the authorities' inquiries if they are made under the Code of Criminal Procedure," an official said. "Our regulations don't clearly state how we respond to inquiries on its members' personal information made by the law enforcement authorities. However, we have no choice but to comply with requests made in accordance with legislation even if it is not compulsory." The information released includes taspo holders' dates of birth, addresses, phone numbers and the dates of issue of their taspo cards, the dates and locations of the holders' cigarette purchases using their cards. The institute has declined to say how many pieces of personal information it has provided to authorities. As of July 18, the Tobacco Institute of Japan has issued taspo cards to nearly 9.3 million people, or 34.7 percent of smokers across the country -- since it introduced the system in July last year. Those buying cigarettes from vending machines must touch their taspo cards against the machines to verify that they are aged 20 or over.

[Mike Oxlong]

That's not quite true. Any money you pay to that account is credited to your social security account after you leave Japan if you are from a country who has a treaty on social security with Japan. You will be eligible to have it calculated into your eventual retirement in either country.

Let's say my home country only completed and signed a social security treaty with Japan in 2006. Will the money I paid into social security here before the treaty was signed be credited to my account back in Canuckistan if I return in my old age?

[Doctor Stop]

Yes, but I believe that Japanese pension payments paid before 2006 will be only credited to your account in the form of Canadian Tire money.

[FG Lurker]

Yes, but I believe that Japanese pension payments paid before 2006 will be only credited to your account in the form of Canadian Tire money.

That's okay as Canadian Tire $ would still be worth more than the J-pension system will be by the time I retire... Well, if Canadian Tire goes bust before then I guess it the two would be worth about the same.

[james]

That's okay as Canadian Tire $ would still be worth more than the J-pension system will be by the time I retire... Well, if Canadian Tire goes bust before then I guess it the two would be worth about the same.

not to mention that (i think) it's a pre-tax discount, meaning that a canadian tire dollar would also be worth more than a real canadian dollar.