Fukui Prefecture Adopts "GMO Sign Electronic Official Seal" to Digitally Handle Ordinance Promulgation with Electronic Signatures [GMO GlobalSign Holdings]
GMO GlobalSign Holdings' "GMO Sign Electronic Official Seal" has been adopted by Fukui Prefecture in March 2026. This service fully supports the digitalization of mayoral signatures for ordinance promulgation, aligning with the revised Local Autonomy Act, enabling efficient administrative operations and swift, reliable ordinance promulgation even during disasters.
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- 📰 Published: April 27, 2026 at 20:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 27, 2026 at 11:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 28, 2026 at 02:18 (14h 46m after Collected)
GMO GlobalSign Holdings, Inc. (Representative Director and President: Mitsuru Aoyama, hereinafter referred to as GMO GlobalSign HD)'s service "GMO Sign Gyokaku DX Electronic Official Seal" (hereinafter referred to as "GMO Sign Electronic Official Seal"), which supports "digitalization of mayoral signatures for ordinance promulgation" (※1), was introduced to Fukui Prefecture (Governor: Takato Ishida, hereinafter referred to as Fukui Prefecture) in March 2026. "GMO Sign Electronic Official Seal" fully supports "digitalization of mayoral signatures for ordinance promulgation" (※2) through electronic certificates with mayoral official responsibility, which are reviewed and issued by an electronic certification authority. Through the utilization of this service, Fukui Prefecture has established an operational system that ensures rapid and reliable ordinance promulgation, even when the governor cannot report to office due to natural disasters or other reasons, in addition to improving the efficiency of administrative tasks through electronic signatures.
(※1) (Notice) Regarding the revision of the Local Autonomy Act, etc., by the "Act on the Promotion of Reforms to Enhance the Autonomy and Independence of Regions" by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications | https://www.soumu.go.jp/main_content/001009459.pdf
On May 16, 2025, the revision of the "Local Autonomy Act" made it possible for the signature of the head of an ordinary local public entity to be replaced by "measures specified by ordinance of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications" (Article 16, Paragraph 4 of the Local Autonomy Act). Along with this, revisions to the "Enforcement Regulations of the Local Autonomy Act" and the "Enforcement Regulations of the Act on Special Measures for Municipal Mergers" clarified that such alternative measures are electronic signatures as stipulated by the Electronic Signature Act.
(※2) Press Release | https://www.gmogshd.com/news/news-15526
## "GMO Sign Electronic Official Seal" Supports Digitalization of Mayoral Signatures for Ordinance Promulgation under the Revised Local Autonomy Act
Previously, the mayor's handwritten signature on paper was mandatory for ordinance promulgation. However, with the revision of the Local Autonomy Act promulgated on May 16, 2025, it became possible to handle this with electronic signatures. This revision enables prompt promulgation of ordinances using electronic signatures, even when "human movement" is restricted due to natural disasters, man-made disasters, or special disasters.
On the other hand, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications clearly states as a cautionary point that "regarding the signature that the head of a local public entity is required to make when promulgating ordinances, due to its nature, the head himself/herself must perform it, and similarly, for electronic signatures, the head himself/herself must take measures." While making it a mandatory condition for the mayor to personally take electronic signature measures, sufficient evidentiary proof is required to demonstrate that the mayor himself/herself has confirmed and signed.
In the party-type electronic signature of "GMO Sign Electronic Official Seal," the highest-ranking electronic certification authority in Japan, "GlobalSign," a third-party organization, conducts a strict review, and then issues an electronic certificate with the mayor's official responsibility. "GMO Sign Electronic Official Seal," which guarantees high personal authenticity, conforms to the appropriate operational methods required by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
## Background of Introduction
Following the revision of the Local Autonomy Act in May 2025, which made "digitalization of mayoral signatures for ordinance promulgation" possible, Fukui Prefecture began considering the introduction of "GMO Sign Electronic Official Seal." This was due to the recognition that this service is not merely a tool for operational efficiency but also plays a crucial role as a BCP (Business Continuity Plan) measure in preparation for disasters, infectious disease outbreaks, and other contingencies.
Upon introducing the service, Fukui Prefecture adopted "GMO Sign Electronic Official Seal" as a service that meets the cautionary points specified by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, aiming to continue critical and indispensable operations that significantly impact citizens' lives even during disaster responses. Since March 2026, "GMO Sign Electronic Official Seal" has been utilized in the promulgation of ordinances.
## "GMO Sign Electronic Official Seal" Safely Digitizes Mayoral Signatures for Ordinance Promulgation
- Supports local government operations with high evidentiary power and security compliant with Digital Agency guidelines
"GMO Sign Electronic Official Seal" is an electronic official seal service that is also compatible with the LGWAN environment and can complete everything from signing operations to document storage in the cloud, addressing the cautionary points regarding the operation of electronic signatures for ordinance promulgation.
- Strongly guarantees the mayor's "personal signature" with two-factor authentication
Regarding the point raised by the government, "the head himself/herself must take measures for electronic signatures," "GMO Sign Electronic Official Seal" strongly guarantees that the signature is made by the mayor himself/herself by introducing two-factor authentication.
- Achieves "tamper-proof" evidentiary power with electronic signatures and timestamps
Furthermore, by combining electronic signatures and timestamps, it strongly guarantees the "authenticity (that the sender is the本人)" and "non-tamperability (that the content has not been altered)" of documents. This mechanism allows for operations that meet the legal requirements and reliability demanded for official decision-making and promulgation documents.
- Acquired security certification
(※1) (Notice) Regarding the revision of the Local Autonomy Act, etc., by the "Act on the Promotion of Reforms to Enhance the Autonomy and Independence of Regions" by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications | https://www.soumu.go.jp/main_content/001009459.pdf
On May 16, 2025, the revision of the "Local Autonomy Act" made it possible for the signature of the head of an ordinary local public entity to be replaced by "measures specified by ordinance of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications" (Article 16, Paragraph 4 of the Local Autonomy Act). Along with this, revisions to the "Enforcement Regulations of the Local Autonomy Act" and the "Enforcement Regulations of the Act on Special Measures for Municipal Mergers" clarified that such alternative measures are electronic signatures as stipulated by the Electronic Signature Act.
(※2) Press Release | https://www.gmogshd.com/news/news-15526
## "GMO Sign Electronic Official Seal" Supports Digitalization of Mayoral Signatures for Ordinance Promulgation under the Revised Local Autonomy Act
Previously, the mayor's handwritten signature on paper was mandatory for ordinance promulgation. However, with the revision of the Local Autonomy Act promulgated on May 16, 2025, it became possible to handle this with electronic signatures. This revision enables prompt promulgation of ordinances using electronic signatures, even when "human movement" is restricted due to natural disasters, man-made disasters, or special disasters.
On the other hand, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications clearly states as a cautionary point that "regarding the signature that the head of a local public entity is required to make when promulgating ordinances, due to its nature, the head himself/herself must perform it, and similarly, for electronic signatures, the head himself/herself must take measures." While making it a mandatory condition for the mayor to personally take electronic signature measures, sufficient evidentiary proof is required to demonstrate that the mayor himself/herself has confirmed and signed.
In the party-type electronic signature of "GMO Sign Electronic Official Seal," the highest-ranking electronic certification authority in Japan, "GlobalSign," a third-party organization, conducts a strict review, and then issues an electronic certificate with the mayor's official responsibility. "GMO Sign Electronic Official Seal," which guarantees high personal authenticity, conforms to the appropriate operational methods required by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
## Background of Introduction
Following the revision of the Local Autonomy Act in May 2025, which made "digitalization of mayoral signatures for ordinance promulgation" possible, Fukui Prefecture began considering the introduction of "GMO Sign Electronic Official Seal." This was due to the recognition that this service is not merely a tool for operational efficiency but also plays a crucial role as a BCP (Business Continuity Plan) measure in preparation for disasters, infectious disease outbreaks, and other contingencies.
Upon introducing the service, Fukui Prefecture adopted "GMO Sign Electronic Official Seal" as a service that meets the cautionary points specified by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, aiming to continue critical and indispensable operations that significantly impact citizens' lives even during disaster responses. Since March 2026, "GMO Sign Electronic Official Seal" has been utilized in the promulgation of ordinances.
## "GMO Sign Electronic Official Seal" Safely Digitizes Mayoral Signatures for Ordinance Promulgation
- Supports local government operations with high evidentiary power and security compliant with Digital Agency guidelines
"GMO Sign Electronic Official Seal" is an electronic official seal service that is also compatible with the LGWAN environment and can complete everything from signing operations to document storage in the cloud, addressing the cautionary points regarding the operation of electronic signatures for ordinance promulgation.
- Strongly guarantees the mayor's "personal signature" with two-factor authentication
Regarding the point raised by the government, "the head himself/herself must take measures for electronic signatures," "GMO Sign Electronic Official Seal" strongly guarantees that the signature is made by the mayor himself/herself by introducing two-factor authentication.
- Achieves "tamper-proof" evidentiary power with electronic signatures and timestamps
Furthermore, by combining electronic signatures and timestamps, it strongly guarantees the "authenticity (that the sender is the本人)" and "non-tamperability (that the content has not been altered)" of documents. This mechanism allows for operations that meet the legal requirements and reliability demanded for official decision-making and promulgation documents.
- Acquired security certification