Japan Says Goodbye to Floppy Disks
get rid of: to change a decision or plan to the opposite direction
Many think of Japan as a high-tech country, but it might surprise you to learn that the government still used floppy disks until this year. These old storage devices were popular in the 1990s but are now long outdated. Until recently, people had to use them to submit documents to the government. But now, these rules have been removed, thanks to Digital Minister Taro Kono.
Mr. Kono has been trying to remove old technology since he started his job. In 2021, he promised to “get rid of the fax machine” and “declared war” on floppy disks. Now, he says, “We have won the war on floppy disks!”
Japan has been slow to adopt new digital technologies. Many offices still use fax machines, and official documents need to be certified with special stamps called hanko. Despite efforts to modernize, these changes are happening slowly.
Sample sentences
1. I need to get rid of all these old clothes that I never wear.
2. The school decided to get rid of unhealthy snacks from the vending machines.
3. Sarah got rid of her old phone when she bought a new one.