You're right, the Japanese government went about it backward.
The needed to offer free services, but you need a number to claim them...and then use the number for everything else under the sun...just like FDR did.
Fortunately, I don't need the government to give me underwear.
You are right. FDR went about it much more deviously. He even said the number would only be used for Social Security. SS Cards used to say "not to be used for identification purposes." A co-worker with that disclaimer on his card was asked by the company to either get a new card without the statement, or provide other documents. I guess the company was illegally relying on the card copy as a form of ID.
"I don't especially enjoy being called by a number. It feels like a prisoner," said Yasuyoshi Ban, a 60-year-old truck driver.
I don't either, and despite the fact I never consented to the number, I'm stuck with it for life. I understand that when people send the government a letter to forfeit their number, they receive no reply or acknowledgement.