💡 Introduction
In 2025, a newly elected lawmaker—formerly a tech entrepreneur—sparked national conversation when he questioned a longstanding but little-known parliamentary custom in Japan: laptops and tablets are not allowed in the Diet chambers. Why? Because they are said to “lack dignity.”
Yes, you read that right.
In an age where digital tools are essential to most professionals, Japan’s legislative body still insists on paper printouts, hand-written notes, and device-free deliberation.
This article explores the origins of this tradition, the controversy behind it, and how Japan’s resistance to technological change could be deepening a broader societal stagnation. With fresh voices entering politics, could change finally be coming?
👨💻 The Man Behind the Stir: A Tech Engineer Turned Politician
A young lawmaker—an AI engineer who recently entered politics—made headlines after revealing that he was told laptops were “undignified” for Diet proceedings. His background is not from traditional political circles but from startups and digital platforms, making him acutely aware of Japan’s tech lag.
Rather than accepting the ban, he questioned its relevance in the modern era, saying he wanted to bring the issue to light and discuss the possibility of reform. His goal? To help Japanese politics catch up with the digital reality already embedded in the private sector and daily life.
🏛️ Why Are Laptops Banned in the Diet?
The rule originates from an older belief that typing on a laptop during sessions appears disrespectful—like working on something unrelated, or not paying attention to colleagues’ speeches. The word often used to justify this is 品位 (hin’i)—dignity.
However, the rule raises several questions:
- Is holding a stack of paper more dignified than using a secure laptop?
- Are Diet members expected to memorize vast amounts of data?
- Doesn’t banning digital tools hinder efficiency, research, and policy accuracy?
While it may have once been about preventing distractions, in 2025 it seems more about preserving outdated rituals than enabling smart governance.
📉 Japan’s Tech Lag in Government: A Broader Pattern
Japan is known globally for its robotics and electronics. Yet when it comes to government technology, it lags far behind. Some examples include:
- Reliance on fax machines in public institutions
- Paper-based COVID response systems that delayed critical relief efforts
- Slow adoption of digital IDs, despite years of planning
The refusal to modernize systems isn’t due to lack of tools, but often due to rigid bureaucracy and a fear of disrupting “traditional” procedures.
Banning laptops in the Diet is a symptom of this deeper issue. It reflects a mindset that associates technology with disorder rather than productivity.
🔁 A Negative Feedback Loop
This outdated mindset creates a harmful loop:
- Tech is banned in leadership forums
- Debates lack real-time information
- Outcomes are less informed or timely
- Citizens lose trust in political relevance
- Voter turnout drops, innovation gets delayed
As a result, the very institutions that should be leading digital transformation are the ones holding it back.
🚀 The Case for Reform: Laptops as Tools of Democracy
Allowing laptops in the Diet isn’t just about comfort or convenience. It’s about aligning Japan’s legislative process with the realities of the modern world.
Here’s how this simple change could make a big difference:
✅ Real-Time Access to Information
Lawmakers can cross-check laws, review live stats, and fact-check during debates.
✅ Transparency and Accountability
Typing notes or referencing data during discussions creates a traceable record—less ambiguity, more clarity.
✅ Efficiency
Fewer printing costs, faster communication, and reduced dependence on clerks for information retrieval.
✅ Attracting New Talent
Young professionals may be more likely to enter politics if the environment reflects modern workplace norms.
🤔 Objections and Rebuttals
Of course, change never comes without pushback. Here are common criticisms—and counterpoints:
❌ “It Looks Rude”
Some fear that typing during speeches shows a lack of respect.
➡️ Solution: Set etiquette rules—such as not typing during someone’s speech or only using devices for relevant references.
❌ “They Might Play Games or Slack Off”
A concern rooted in mistrust.
➡️ Solution: Use secure, monitored devices. Just like in courts or corporate meetings, restrictions can be enforced.
❌ “It’s Tradition”
Some argue that paper-based debate has symbolic value.
➡️ Solution: Symbols matter—but not when they block functionality. Tradition and innovation can coexist.
🌏 Global Comparison: What Do Other Countries Do?
Japan is one of the few major democracies that still heavily restricts digital tools in parliamentary sessions.
- In the UK, many MPs use tablets during sessions.
- The European Parliament allows devices with secure voting apps.
- South Korea’s National Assembly uses digital whiteboards and real-time digital displays.
Japan risks looking out of touch, not just to its own citizens—but to the world.
🧠 My Take: What This Debate Really Reveals
At its heart, this is about cultural inertia. Japan prides itself on precision and professionalism, but it sometimes conflates “form” with “function.”
This rule doesn’t preserve dignity—it suppresses it. Dignity in the modern world comes from:
- Being informed
- Being responsive
- Being efficient
Denying lawmakers the right to use laptops is like asking a doctor to diagnose without a stethoscope.
The fact that this debate is even happening in 2025 is telling. But it also signals that change may be on the horizon.
🌱 A Generation of Change?
With more digitally native lawmakers entering office, this issue might not go away quietly. In fact, it could be a symbolic turning point.
Japan doesn’t need to reinvent governance—it just needs to remove the artificial barriers that prevent smart people from doing smart things efficiently.
And allowing laptops in the Diet could be the first domino in a broader effort to modernize Japan’s political, bureaucratic, and public service systems.
🏁 Conclusion: From Dignity to Data
In today’s data-driven world, refusing lawmakers the tools they need to analyze, research, and collaborate isn’t dignified—it’s dangerous.
The ban on laptops in Japan’s Diet is more than a quirky rule. It’s a symbol of a deeper problem: a system resistant to evolution, even when evolution is essential for national survival.
But with forward-thinking lawmakers raising these issues—and a public that increasingly demands change—Japan may yet break free of its tech stagnation.
It starts with one question: Do we value appearances, or do we value effectiveness?
The answer could define the next chapter in Japan’s political modernization.
