mintarc
A major issue with Japanese companies, especially when it comes to technology adoption, is their strong preference for SaaS (Software as a Service) solutions and the resulting tendency toward vendor lock-in. This is closely tied to a broader cultural and operational reluctance to assume direct responsibility for IT systems, which in turn creates anxiety around adopting Free and Open Source Software (FOSS).
And, by prioritizing SaaS solutions and accepting vendor lock-in, Japanese companies do risk compromising their customers’ data security, privacy, and digital sovereignty. When a company relies heavily on a SaaS provider, it often means that sensitive customer data—such as personal information, financial records, or business-critical files—is stored and managed on external servers controlled by the vendor. And sometimes this goes many many layers deep.
With that context, it's clear why mintarc is charting a roadmap to help educate and demonstrate that alternatives to proprietary software are well worth the effort—not just for companies, but also for consumers. These alternatives offer significant benefits for privacy and data protection, especially as big tech companies push to collect even more personal information. The importance of maintaining control over digital assets has never been more important.
But none of that matters because it comes down to cost and passing of accountability in Japan. Despite the presence of some of the strictest data privacy laws in the world, such as the Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI), many Japanese businesses view data privacy primarily as a compliance requirement rather than a strategic priority or a source of competitive advantage
The preference for SaaS and the avoidance of direct accountability make it difficult for FOSS and privacy-focused alternatives to gain traction, regardless of their clear benefits for data security and digital independence. The business culture prioritizes minimizing risk and cost over taking proactive steps to safeguard customer data, which is why our efforts so important, yet we face significant hurdles.
Even some of the largest open source organizations here end up relying on commercial big tech solutions. Honestly, it’s difficult to advocate for FOSS when the very organizations that champion open source often don’t fully use it themselves. This disconnect makes it challenging to build a convincing case for FOSS adoption, as it raises questions about its practicality and reliability if even its strongest proponents turn to proprietary platforms.