In 2024, finding a floppy disk is a real challenge. Sony stopped producing 3.5″ floppies in 2011, making them nearly obsolete. However, the use of floppy disks persisted in Japan due to regulations that required government documents to be submitted on outdated storage media. The Minister for Digital Transformation, Taro Kono, decided to eliminate the use of floppy disks in August 2022, and after two years of effort, he has succeeded in his mission.
The Digital Agency in Japan, established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, aims to modernize the country’s administrative systems. Kono took on the role of Minister for Digital Transformation in August 2022 and made eliminating outdated technology a top priority. The battle against floppy disks symbolized this initiative, given their rarity and limited storage capacity compared to modern standards.
Despite the challenges, Kono led a review of Japan’s laws to identify provisions that required the use of specific formats like floppy disks. The review uncovered 1,894 such requirements, leading to the amendment or removal of outdated format mandates. In January of this year, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced the elimination of 34 requirements for floppy disk usage, marking a significant milestone in the digital transformation efforts.
With the successful removal of floppy disk requirements, Kono proudly declared victory over outdated technology. However, the persistence of other seemingly outdated technologies, like COBOL systems in banking and fax machines, raises questions about the lasting impact of eliminating floppy disks. The Pentagon’s rationale for maintaining the use of eight-inch floppy disks for the US nuclear command system, despite their antiquated nature, was that “it still works.”
While Kono’s war on floppy disks may be over, the broader implications of eliminating obsolete technologies remain to be seen. The ongoing evolution of technology and the potential resurgence of once-obsolete formats highlight the complex nature of digital transformation efforts in the modern age. As Japan continues to modernize its administrative systems, the legacy of the floppy disk era serves as a reminder of the ever-changing landscape of technology and innovation.
