Japan to Phase Out Requirement for Floppy Disk Submissions

The move, initiated by Minister of Digital Affairs Taro Kono, marks a significant step towards modernizing data submission protocols in the country.

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) will no longer require businesses to submit official documents on floppy disks and CD-ROMs after this calendar year.
Minister of Digital Affairs, Taro Kono, initiated the move away from physical media in 2022, identifying around 1900 protocols across multiple government departments that still require older physical media.
Key industries including energy companies, mining operations, and aircraft and weapons manufacturers were among those required to submit information via physical media.
Despite the move, some industries will continue to rely on floppy disks, such as older planes for avionics and some older medical devices.
Sony, the last major manufacturer of floppy disks, stopped selling them in 2011.