#Japan #Tokyo #Cybertrust #Remote Signature System #Electronic Certification

CyberTrust Secures Remote Signature System for Ministry of Justice

CyberTrust, based in Minato, Tokyo, has recently announced its successful bid for the design, development, and operation of the remote signature system associated with the Ministry of Justice's "Commercial Registration Electronic Certification Portal System." This innovative service aims to enable secure and convenient online electronic signatures using commercial registration electronic certificates.

The project aligns with the government's June 2025 decision to implement key digital societal initiatives. Among these efforts are the digitization of administrative procedures, which have become increasingly important in our technologically advanced world.

Background of the Initiative

In a move to facilitate electronic administrative processes and e-commerce, the Ministry of Justice first launched the "Electronic Certification System" in 2000. This system enabled the issuing of electronic certificates to corporations through certified electronic registration authorities. Although the demand for commercial registration electronic certificates has seen a constant rise, challenges such as user complexity and limited environments for electronic signatures have hindered broader adoption.

In response to these challenges, the Ministry of Justice issued a tender for the "Commercial Registration Electronic Certification Portal System and Remote Signature System." This initiative aims to provide a solution that enables users to execute electronic signatures safely and conveniently online through the introduction of a remote signature framework. Leveraging its extensive experience in operating Japan's longest-standing electronic certification center and employing a hybrid model that integrates cloud and on-premise solutions, CyberTrust has been awarded the contract for the design, development, and maintenance of this new system.

Changes and Improvements in the New System

Previously, users had to utilize the "Commercial Registration Electronic Certification Software" to apply for services, necessitating that they execute their electronic signatures on their own devices. Moreover, the existing system required signers to store their signing keys in a local file format (PKCS#12), which limited the overall accessibility of the service.

With the implementation of CyberTrust's remote signature infrastructure, users will now be able to perform electronic signatures safely and reliably from anywhere using their smartphones. This significant enhancement in usability is expected to alleviate existing complexities by improving the interface from the user's perspective. Additionally, management of the commercial registration electronic certificates and private keys will be conducted on dedicated hardware security modules (HSM) at CyberTrust’s Electronic Certification Centers, significantly reducing administrative burdens and mitigating the security risks of potential data leaks.

The full operation of this new system is anticipated to commence in the fiscal year 2026, aligning with the increasing digitalization of administrative tasks and the enhancement of business processes in the wake of a national digital reform.

Future Prospects and Integration

The commercial registration electronic certificates issued through this system will play a pivotal role in the online identity verification of corporate representatives as well as facilitating various applications and submissions to administrative bodies from corporations. This approach is expected to further expedite the digitization of corporate transactions and streamline administrative procedures. Furthermore, aligning the commercial registration electronic certificates with the GBizID—a unified authentication system for businesses provided by the digital agency—can lead to a shared infrastructure that benefits various stakeholders.

CyberTrust is making substantial contributions to the broad digital transformation of administrative procedures, which will, in turn, impact Japan's overall economic activities and business environments. The success of this project reaffirms CyberTrust’s dedication to supporting the digital advancement of various enterprises and organizations.

By focusing on principles of trust and security, CyberTrust has established itself as a leader in providing certification and security technology solutions since its inception as Japan's first commercial certification authority in 2000. This transformation positions the company to not only support governmental procedures but also to drive forward the digital evolution across multiple sectors.

Conclusion

CyberTrust's recent contract with the Ministry of Justice marks a significant step towards enhancing the digital landscape of Japan's administrative processes. The integration of advanced technology promises not only to simplify operations for businesses but also to ensure that these processes remain secure, efficient, and user-friendly. For more information, visit CyberTrust's press release.