Home> > First Electronic Money-based Settlement System for Certificate Fees, etc. in Tokyo Metropolitan Area Launched at Citizens' Affairs Section of Kodaira City Office — Helping to rationalize fee collection work for local governments and enhance convenien

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News Release

First Electronic Money-based Settlement System for Certificate Fees, etc.
in Tokyo Metropolitan Area Launched at Citizens' Affairs Section of Kodaira City Office
- Helping to rationalize fee collection work for local governments and enhance convenience to local residents -

December 21, 2009

The Japan Research Institute, Limited, Seibu Railway Co., Ltd. and Toshiba Tec Corporation are to launch a new system that will allow users to make electronic money payments (using "Pasmo" and "Suica" cards) at the Citizens' Affairs Section of Kodaira City Office. The system, which will be the first of its kind in the Tokyo metropolitan area, is designed to rationalize fee collection work for local governments and make it more convenient for local residents to pay for services.

The electronic money settlement system will be introduced on a trial basis on January 25, 2010 and, subject to validation, will come into full-scale use in April. To date, most local governments have only accepted payment of fees for the issue of official documents (certificates of residence, certificates of seal impression, etc.) in cash and have not catered for electronic money settlements. In recent years, however, the use of electronic money has become an everyday occurrence. Electronic money is widely used in the form of smart-card tickets issued by public transport bodies or as a means of payment at railway station kiosks or in convenience stores, and local government offices are finding a rising level of demand among local residents for its use in the payment of fees for services.

The trial introduction of electronic money as a means of payment of fees at the Citizens' Affairs Section of the Kodaira City Office will allow the developers to verify the benefits of the system in terms of rationalizing fee collection for local government bodies and the level of demand among local residents. The system will then be brought into full-scale use, the aim being to extend its use to other sections of the Kodaira City Office and other local governments. The payment of fees using electronic money falls under the title of provision of counter services using ICT and will contribute to the creation of electronic settlement systems under the Japanese government's "e-municipality" initiative.

For more information on the content of this report, please contact Shigeru Takamura, the Japan Research Institute, Limited.

Tel: 03-3288-4187

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