When people around the world think of Japan, they often imagine a high-tech utopia—robot assistants, bullet trains, AI vending machines, and smart toilets. But there’s a surprising reality behind this image: fax machines in Japan are still very much alive. While many countries ditched fax machines decades ago in favor of email and cloud services, Japan continues to rely on these clunky devices in both business and government sectors.
Why does a country known for futuristic innovation still use such outdated technology? The answer lies in tradition, trust, and the unique culture of Japanese bureaucracy.
The Historical Roots of Fax Machines in Japan
The first commercial fax machines appeared in Japan in the 1970s and quickly spread across homes and offices in the 1980s. They became a staple in Japanese communication, especially in small businesses. Part of the reason for their popularity was the complexity of written Japanese, which made handwritten or printed documents preferable to early digital text formats that couldn’t handle kanji well.
As the internet grew in the 1990s and 2000s, many Western countries began phasing out faxes. But in Japan, where respect for existing systems is high and changing workflows is seen as burdensome, fax machines in Japan stuck around.
Who Still Uses Fax Machines in Japan?
While the rest of the world shifted to email, Japan’s love affair with the fax machine never quite ended. Today, the following sectors still heavily rely on faxes:
1. Government Offices
Many Japanese government institutions still require documents to be faxed. In fact, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare famously received COVID-19 case reports via fax during the height of the pandemic. This led to widespread delays and errors, which sparked international attention—but didn’t stop the practice.
- Healthcare Industry
In Japan’s medical field, fax machines are still widely used by hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies to handle prescriptions and patient referrals. Many healthcare providers prefer faxing documents because they view it as a more secure method of sharing sensitive information, especially in a system where digital privacy concerns remain high. The physical nature of a faxed document is often considered more trustworthy than digital communication, which some believe is more vulnerable to breaches.
5. Media and Publishing
Magazines and newspapers sometimes accept submissions or press releases by fax. In a tradition-heavy industry like publishing, many editors and writers continue using fax for routine communications.
Clearly, fax machines in Japan are more than a relic—they are still embedded in the nation’s daily workflow.
Why Fax Machines Persist in Japan
There are a few key reasons fax machines in Japan remain so widely used:
1. Trust and Tangibility
Faxes offer something digital files can’t: a physical paper trail. Japanese culture places a strong value on tangible proof, and a printed document with a seal or signature is considered more official than a digital file. There’s also a perception that fax machines are more secure since they aren’t as vulnerable to cyberattacks.
2. Respect for Tradition
Japan values stability, order, and respect for established systems. Even when new technologies are available, there’s often resistance to changing systems that already work. Companies may see fax machines as part of their office identity.
3. Hanko Culture
The personal stamp known as a hanko is still required on many official documents in Japan. Scanning and emailing a hanko-stamped form isn’t seen as proper—faxing it, on the other hand, is widely accepted. Until the hanko system is reformed, fax machines in Japan will likely remain relevant.
4. Regulatory Inertia
Changing how a country communicates takes time, especially when laws and regulations haven’t caught up with technology. For example, some government departments still legally require faxes as an official method of submitting documents. This creates a kind of regulatory “lock-in” that makes faxes difficult to replace.
Push for Change (But Slow Progress)
Despite the cultural attachment to faxes, there are signs of change. In 2020, then-Digital Minister Takuya Hirai openly criticized the government’s dependence on outdated tech and called for fax removal. In 2021, the Japanese government attempted to phase out faxes in official use—but faced pushback from local agencies.
A 2022 Nikkei Asia report revealed that over 90% of local governments still used fax machines for daily communication. Even with growing digitalization efforts, the shift has been slow.
In the private sector, companies like Panasonic and Sharp still produce fax machines specifically for the Japanese market. Meanwhile, cloud fax services—digital tools that send faxes via the internet—are growing, acting as a bridge between old habits and new technologies.
What the Future Holds
Will fax machines in Japan eventually disappear? Possibly—but not soon.
Younger generations, remote work trends, and increased digital awareness are pushing businesses to explore alternatives. However, the unique social and bureaucratic environment in Japan means change will take time. The shift will likely happen in phases: first, hybrid systems like cloud fax, followed by gradual acceptance of email, cloud signatures, and online document management.
There’s also hope that as more foreign companies expand into Japan, they’ll encourage digital systems that align with global standards. However, this needs to be balanced with Japanese expectations around security, formality, and etiquette.
Final Thoughts
Japan might be famous for its cutting-edge gadgets and futuristic appeal, but it’s also a country deeply rooted in tradition. Fax machines in Japan are a fascinating example of how technology, culture, and bureaucracy can intertwine to resist global trends.
While the rest of the world views fax as outdated, in Japan, it still plays a central role in communication—especially where trust and tangibility are concerned. Whether you’re sending a prescription, confirming a contract, or just placing an order, the fax machine remains a quiet, humming presence in the Japanese workplace.
Understanding fax machines in Japan isn’t just about tech—it’s about seeing how a nation balances its past with its future. And until deeper reforms take hold, don’t be surprised if your next business deal in Japan comes through with a familiar beeping sound and a warm piece of paper in your hand.
