What Is the My Number Card in Japan? Do You Need It?
You’ve probably heard about the My Number card since arriving in Japan. Maybe someone at your ward office mentioned it. Maybe your employer asked about it. Here’s what it actually is and whether you really need one. What Is My Number? My Number (マイナンバー) is Japan’s national ID system. Every person living in Japan — including foreigners — gets a unique 12-digit number. You received your My Number in the mail shortly after registering your address in Japan. It came in a thin envelope, probably looked unimportant, and hopefully you didn’t throw it out. ...