The government held a ceremony Monday commemorating the official launch of an electronic payment service that allows people to pay taxes or other government fees online or through banks' automated teller machines.

The new service, dubbed Pay-easy, is part of efforts to promote "e-government" strategies, government officials said.

The ceremony was attended by Taro Aso, the minister of public management, home affairs, posts and telecommunications, as well as other officials and celebrities, including actress Rie Tomosaka. Various electronic payment procedures were demonstrated at the ceremony.

Currently, people have to visit financial institutions to pay government fees over the counter or purchase government revenue stamps to do so.

Under the new Pay-easy system, people will be able to make payments through Internet banking with the use of personal computers or mobile phones, or via ATMs.