—Beyond Printing—Document Digitalization and Electronic Authentication Summary of Laws and Regulations for Business Document Digitalization, and “Liberation from the Traditional Custom of Seals” to Use e-Seals Alternatively.

Abstract

The new coronavirus infection has spread worldwide and “Social Distance” being obligatory all over the world, in Japan, remotework/telework became common in new work styles. We are forced to change our traditional business custom with “paper” and “hanko (seals) ” to paperless and digitalized one. Internal approvements, applications and external business-related documents are going to be digitalized. The key to “paperless” and “de-hanko” is to “meet the requirements of laws and regulations”, “digitalized method of internal control”, and “identity verification (of mutual trading companies) ”. In this review, I will explain the outline of the main laws requirements, guidelines and the electronic hanko (electronic authentication).