The government released a report Thursday on the measures it took to combat the Year 2000 computer bug and leap-year glitch, concluding that its handling of the situations was "very successful."
"The government has won confidence for overcoming problems our society may face in an age of information and communication in the 21st century by taking such proactive measures," Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi said at a Y2K problem conference to which the report was submitted.
According to the report, 33.6 percent of Y2K or leap-year problems were related to date and printing malfunctions, while 9.9 percent were the result of malfunctions in transferring data between computers.
However, seven Y2K computer problems occurred at nuclear power plants, and many automated teller machines for accessing postal savings accounts throughout Japan failed to function due to a disruption in the ATM network.
The report said a multiplex management system is necessary to prevent such problems, but added that "because they are carried out manually, it is important to remember that inspections cannot be perfect and malfunctions can occur any time."