March 13, 2026 Designation of a Specified Investigation Body for Electronic Seals (e-Seals) Certification Operations Accredited by the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, Publication of Accreditation Logo, and Commencement of Application Acceptance

　For electronic seals (e-seals) certification operations accredited by the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) designated the Japan Data Communications Association (abbreviated as “DEKYO” in Japanese), chaired by KURODA Yoshihiro, as a specified investigation body, and published its logo today.
　Applications for accreditation of e-seals certification operations by the Minister will be accepted starting Monday, March 30, 2026.

1. Background, and other details

　Electronic seals (“e-seals") is technology used to certify the source of electronic data issued by companies and other entities, and to ensure that the electronic data has not been tampered with. In March 2025, the MIC issued the Regulations for Accrediting Certification Operations Pertaining to e-Seals (MIC Notice No. 113 of 2025) to establish an accreditation system under which the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications accredits providers of e-seals certification operations, which function as certification authorities (CAs).

　According to the relevant MIC notice, the provisions concerning specified investigation bodies have already come into force, while those concerning the accreditation of e-seals certification operations by the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications will come into force within one year from the date of promulgation (March 31, 2025).

2. Designation of specified investigation bodies

　Pursuant to Article 13 of the Notice, DEKYO applied for designation as a specified investigation body. Upon examination, DEKYO was found to meet the requirements stipulated in Articles 14 and 15 of the Notice. Today, the MIC has designated it as a specified investigation body.

3. Publication of the logo

　The MIC published an accreditation logo today. The logo allows providers of e-seals certification operations accredited by the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications to indicate on their websites, business cards, and other materials that they are accredited.

　The logo features a ribbon—often used with seals—as a symbol of sealing information. The design of "information" is intended to evoke a human figure, while the ribbon is intended to evoke the shape of a computer.

　For terms and conditions of use, please visit the special e-seals page (Japanese only)
(https://www.soumu.go.jp/main_sosiki/joho_tsusin/top/ninshou-law/electronic_seal.html )