It is worth remembering here that Sony Corporation announced in 2011 that it was discontinuing the production of 3.5-inch floppy disks, the old data carrier.

To the digitalization meeting

The decision to remove the obligation for citizens and organizations to send files via floppy disk was taken by Minister Taro Kono, who initiated the legislative changes almost two years ago. Japanese citizens and organizations are no longer required to provide electronic copies of documents on physical media, including floppy disks and optical discs.

Instead, files can now be sent via electronic communication channels and stored in cloud storage, streamlining the bureaucratic process.

Japan’s move away from floppy disks reflects progress in a country that had traditionally resisted digital signatures in various aspects of document management even before the pandemic. But this conservatism is not unique to Japan.

• In the United States, for example, the Department of Defense only phased out older 8-inch floppy disks in 2019, even though they were phased out decades ago.
• In Ukraine, despite our high level of digitalization and paperless orientation, which was planned even before the war, in some state and educational institutions and even in some hospitals, even without modern laptops, you can still encounter the requirement to send documents on disk. They even have devices for recording discs.

It is noteworthy that 3.5-inch floppy disks in particular can still be purchased from old stocks. Some companies specialize in supplying these products for use in industrial equipment, medical equipment and musical instruments, keeping pace with decreasing demand over time.