Japan's Regulatory Reform Minister Kono Taro says the use of personal seals will likely be abolished for most government paperwork.

Kono told reporters on Friday that the use of seals will likely be ended for all but 83 of roughly 15,000 types of administrative procedures. The 83 require imprints of officially registered seals, rather than the simple name stamps more commonly in use.

Kono said he will prepare relevant legislation to be submitted next year at the regular Diet session that usually begins in January.

Kono also said he wants to do away with paperwork as much as possible. He said the main objective is not ending the use of seals, but digitizing administrative procedures.