A law has been promulgated to allow smartphones to be equipped with the My Number Card function (electronic record instead of a card)

A law has been promulgated to allow smartphones to be equipped with the My Number card function (electronic record instead of a card). Partial amendments to the Act on the Use of Numbers to Identify Specific Individuals in Administrative Procedures (Act No. 6 of June 6, 7 [Article 46]).

Partial amendment of the Act on the Use of Numbers to Identify Specific Individuals in Administrative Procedures
　1. Information to be recorded on the Individual Number Card and measures for identity verification
　Gender has been removed from the items to be recorded on the Individual Number Card, and with regard to identity verification measures taken by practitioners of affairs using Individual Numbers, etc., when an Individual Number is provided in relation to the processing of affairs using Individual Numbers, etc., which use information related to gender, and an Individual Number Card is presented, the information related to gender recorded on the Individual Number Card must also be verified by electromagnetic means. (Related to Article 2, Paragraph 7 and the proviso to Article 16)
　2. Card-substitute electromagnetic records
　　(i) "Electromagnetic record in lieu of card" refers to an electromagnetic record that is composed of an electromagnetic record related to the record items on the Individual Number Card and an electromagnetic record related to the items necessary for the recipient of the electromagnetic record to confirm that the electromagnetic record belongs to the person who sent it, and that has been electronically signed by the Local Government Information Systems Agency. In addition, a new provision has been added that, as a measure for identity verification to be carried out by an implementer of affairs using Individual Numbers, a person who provides Individual Numbers will receive and verify the transmission of an electromagnetic record in lieu of card. (Related to Article 2, Paragraph 8 and Article 16, Item 2)
　　(2) A person who has been issued a personal number card (limited to a person who has been issued an electronic signature certificate for the personal number card and said electronic signature certificate for the personal number card has not become invalid) may, upon application, be issued an electromagnetic record in lieu of a card in order to record said electromagnetic record in lieu of a card in the mobile terminal equipment used by said person and use said record. (Article 18-2, paragraph 1)
　　(iii) When a person who has been issued an electromagnetic record substituted for a card provides the electromagnetic record substituted for the card pertaining to that person, the person must transmit the electromagnetic record substituted for the card using a program certified by the Prime Minister, and the person who receives the electromagnetic record substituted for the card must verify that the electromagnetic record substituted for the card belongs to the person who transmitted it using a program provided by the Prime Minister or a program certified by the Prime Minister. (In relation to Article 18-2, Paragraphs 6 and 7, Article 18-3 and Article 18-4)
　　(iv) Necessary reviews will be conducted on the basic principles, fees collected by the Japan Agency for Local Authority Information Systems, and the medium-term goals and penalties of the Japan Agency for Local Authority Information Systems (Article 3, Article 18-5, Paragraph 1, Article 38-8, Paragraph 1, and Article 55).
　3. Support from the Prime Minister to ensure the accuracy of specific personal information
　The Prime Minister will provide necessary information, advice and other support to the person in charge of administrative work using personal numbers in order to keep specific personal information accurate and up-to-date. (Article 6-2)

(source)Digital Agency as well as the New Japanese Laws PICK UP! Law Revision Information

Information from the Digital Agency about this legislation can be found here.

A bill to amend the Basic Act on the Formation of a Digital Society, etc., in order to improve the convenience of those involved in administrative procedures, etc., and to simplify and streamline administrative operations through the use of information and communications technology.

Number 4 on this page is this.

4. Measures relating to My Number and My Number Card (My Number Act)

Ensuring the accuracy of specific personal information (effective from the date of promulgation)
Based on a comprehensive review of My Number information, in order to prevent the recurrence of errors in linking My Number with personal information, it is stipulated that the Digital Agency (Prime Minister) will provide necessary support to ensure the accuracy of specific personal information.
Measures required for the introduction of the next My Number Card (to be implemented within 5 years)
When the next My Number card is introduced, measures will be taken such as removing "gender" from the information printed on the face of the card, while leaving "gender" as an electronic record item on the card.
Measures required for installing My Number Card-related functions on smartphones (to be implemented within one year)
A system will be established that allows identity verification under the My Number Act to be done using only a smartphone, in the same way as with a My Number card.

The documents are attached below:

Regarding card-replacing electronic records, this document from the Digital Agency (presented during deliberations in the House of Councillors) provides a clear explanation.