Case Study
Kuwana City Hall
Self-service issuance of certificates, such as residence records, with multifunction copier
Realizing efficient counter duties and improving resident services

Municipality
Improved efficiency, Reduced costs, Improved service
MX-3610DS x 7 units
Implemented in April 2018 at the town development base facilities located in the city's seven districts. The units provide new services
that replace conventional counter duties.

Kuwana, Mie Prefecture, Japan
Located in north Mie Prefecture with a population of approx. 140,000. This commuter town, with booming residential areas, is just 25km from Nagoya City. Kuwana is home to Nagashima Spa Land, Tado Shrine, Rokkaen and Shichiri-no-Watashi, some of Mie Prefecture's leading tourist spots.
Kuwana City was faced with increasingly diversified resident needs. The functions of our seven district community centers were converted into town development base facilities, and enhanced for our residents. We wanted to realize self-service issuance of various certificates so that the staff could provide more duties closely linked to the community, such as lateral support of community planning activities.
- Multifunction copier for self-service printing of various certificates, such as the residence records, has improved the efficiency of administrative services.
- Adopting the same model as that installed in convenience stores has increased recognition of the convenience store certificate issuance service. It has also helped promote the Individual Number Card "My Number Card" system.
- Service appreciated by residents with lower handling fees than certificates issued at the city counter and the congestion at the city hall counter is reduced.
The needs of Kuwana City residents have diversified due to a decreasing and aging population. In April 2018, we converted our seven district community centers into town development base facilities. To enable the staff to provide duties closely linked to the community, such as lateral support of community planning activities, we aimed to incorporate self-service issuance of documents, such as residence records. Our city started providing convenience store certificate issuance services from 2017. We wanted to further increase usage and promote the “My Number Card” system.

Narutaka Ito
Mayor, Kuwana City
We conducted a bid with the condition that the multifunction copier be the same as that used for convenience store certificate issuance services. The Sharp multifunction copier was highly praised for the universal design that allows the touch screen to be set vertically so even older people in wheelchairs can operate it easily. Certificates issued at the city hall counter use dedicated paper, requiring the staff to carefully manage the paper in a locked locker. The model we selected uses advanced printing technology that prevents forgery and tampering while printing on regular A4 paper.

User sets “My Number Card” on multifunction copier to issue a certificate.
By implementing the multifunction copier at the town development base facility, we have improved convenience for residents as they can print a copy of their residence records or registration certificate of seal-impression by themselves. The staff can spend more time supporting community planning activities and providing consultations on everyday life. Since the multifunction copier is the same that used for convenience store certificate issuance service, more residents understand and use the self-service convenience store certificate issuance service. Residents appreciate this service as the handling fees for issuing a certificate are cheaper than issuing at the city hall counter, and city hall counters are less congested now.

The panel explains the multifunction copier instructions and promotes the certificate issuance service.
Improve resident services by promoting higher efficiency.
By implementing the multifunction copier, we anticipate that the number of residents using the “My Number Card” system will increase. It is expected that the digitalization of administrative services will further accelerate. We will consider implementing the latest devices as needed so we can improve services for our residents.

The touch screen can be set vertically for easy operation even by people in wheelchairs.
Issued July 2018