CloudSign Releases Japan’s First My Number Card–Signed File Download Feature — A Breakthrough in Electronic Contract Usability, Marking the Start of a Fully Digital Era —

　CloudSign, a contract management platform provided by Bengo4.com (Minato-ku, Tokyo; Taichiro Motoe, Representative Director, President and CEO, Lawyer; hereinafter, “the Company”), announces that it has released Japan’s first*1 file download feature for documents signed with a My Number Card (individual number card) (hereinafter, “My Number Card–signed file download feature”). This new feature will dramatically improve the practicality of electronic contracts while simultaneously streamlining identity verification processes and strengthening security for business-to-business transactions and other important contracts that require official digital certificates.
*1: As a platform operator certified by the competent minister under the Public Personal Authentication Act. As of March 2025, based on in-house research

■ Background
As the shift toward a digital society accelerates and demand for electronic contracts continues to grow, My Number Card ownership has reached approximately 77.6% as of January 2025 (according to the Digital Agency). However, under previous regulations, when a document was digitally signed on the cloud using a My Number Card digital certificate, even the signatory was prohibited from downloading the signed file, which limited its practical use. Following a regulatory revision in December 2024,*2 CloudSign has now released the My Number Card–signed file download feature. 
*2: Revision of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Public Notice No. 706 of 2003: “Technical Standards for the Implementation of the Authentication Services and Services Incidental Thereto”

■ Overview of the My Number Card Signature and the File Download Feature for Signed Documents
　CloudSign’s proprietary My Number Card signature feature enables users to apply an electronic signature using the digital signature certificate embedded in their My Number Card. Recipients of documents created and sent via CloudSign can easily apply an electronic signature verified by an official digital certificate simply by holding their My Number Card over a smartphone and entering their password. In addition to its convenience, this feature offers high-level security that helps prevent identity fraud and tampering. The signed result can also be verified directly on CloudSign.
　The newly released My Number Card–signed file download feature allows users to download document data that has been digitally signed using a My Number Card in standard electronic signature formats, such as PAdES. This allows signed documents to be stored in internal systems, integrated with other systems, and archived for long-term retention. In addition, they can be used for online submission in administrative procedures, such as registration filings with legal affairs bureaus.


■ How to Use the My Number Card Signature 

* Use of this service requires downloading the dedicated app.
For iOS:　https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/id1578977312
For Android:　https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.cloudsign.mynumber

■ Use Cases
1. Strengthening identity verification in financial services
Financial institutions may consider adopting the My Number Card signature to prevent identity fraud and enhance the reliability of identity verification. With the My Number Card–signed file download feature, contract data—digitally signed by the individual and verified with an official digital certificate—can be imported into internal systems and integrated into screening processes.

2. Streamlining registration procedures in real estate transactions
Real estate companies are exploring ways to streamline property registration procedures in individual land sale transactions by integrating them with electronic contracts. By downloading signed files and submitting digitized contracts to judicial scriveners or legal affairs bureaus, they can simplify the traditional process of submitting paper contracts and certificates of seal impression.


■ About CloudSign:　https://www.cloudsign.jp/
　CloudSign is a contract management platform that enables digitization of everything from contract execution to management and AI review. The electronic signatures and timestamps are compliant with the Act on Electronic Signatures and Certification Business, ensuring smooth and secure contract execution. CloudSign also began offering Japan’s first ever My Number Card (individual number card) signature capability*3 as part of its general-purpose contracting service in 2023. The platform also shortens the time required for the entire contracting process through the active adoption of AI technology including an AI contract management capability and an AI-powered contract review service, CloudSign Review. CloudSign has become the No. 1 service in the electronic contract market*4, and is widely adopted by companies and local governments. *3: Patented *4: Market share in “New Markets of Software Business 2024” (2023 result of e-contract tools) by Fuji Chimera Research Institute, Inc.