Japan Registry Services Co., Ltd. (JPRS: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President Koki Higashida) today announced that Mr. Fadi Chehade, President and CEO of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and other officials visited JPRS on Feb. 19 2013. During the visit, ICANN officials expressed approval of the partnership with JPRS in activities in the Asian region and Japan. JPRS agreed on further cooperation with ICANN to reinforce links with local communities in the future.

ICANN is a private sector, non-profit organization established in 1998 to coordinate infrastructure resources for the Internet, such as domain names, IP addresses, protocols and root servers. JPRS has actively participated in the establishment of ICANN since the beginning and has investigated various policies and guidelines. JPRS has supported private-sector-driven Internet resource management and coordination centering on ICANN. In 2002, JPRS signed the "ccTLD Sponsorship Agreement (.jp)" with ICANN to manage and administer the .jp top level domain for the Internet community in Japan.

Since Mr. Chehade assumed the office of President and CEO of ICANN in September 2012, ICANN has established a policy of enhancing links with local Internet communities in various regions throughout the world. As a partner for enhancing ICANN activities in the Asian region and Japan, ICANN visited JPRS which has managed and administrated the domain names and operated the Domain Name System (DNS) in Japan for long time.

During this recent visit, ICANN officials expressed their appreciation for JPRS's contributions to the Internet overall, including the company's participation in various ICANN activities, deployment of the latest technologies such as Internationalized Domain Names, IPv6, and the DNSSEC, and efforts toward ensuring stable DNS operations. The officials also expressed their expectations for JPRS to play a large role in further enhancing ICANN's activities in the Asian region and Japan, and JPRS agreed on responding to these expectations.

JPRS will continue to support the private-sector-led Internet resource management organization under ICANN and contribute to the sound development of the Internet in the future.

Mr. Fadi Chehade, President and CEO of ICANN and Mr. Koki Higashida, President of JPRS

From left,
Mr. Christopher Mondini(ICANN VP, Business Engagement)
Mr. George Sadowsky(ICANN Board Member)
Mr. Kuo-Wei Wu(ICANN Board Member)
Mr. Fadi Chehade(ICANN President and CEO)
Mr. Koki Higashida(President of JPRS)
Ms. Sally Costerton(ICANN Senior Advisor to the President, Global Stakeholder Engagement)
Mr. Hirofumi Hotta(Director of JPRS)
Mr. Xiaodong Lee(ICANN VP, Stakeholder Engagement - Asia)
Mr. Atsushi Endo(JPRS)

About JPRS

JPRS is a leading service provider for management and registration of domain names and for the domain name system (DNS) operations. The company was established on December 26, 2000. As a company dedicated to maintaining the Internet infrastructure of Japan, JPRS operates under a corporate philosophy which aims to contribute to the expansion of the Internet and to building a better future for people and society.

References

1. ICANN(Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers)
   http://www.icann.org/

Press Contacts

Since its establishment in 1998, APTLD has had an important role in the development of ccTLDs in the Asia Pacific region by working as a forum for information exchange regarding domain names and registry operations and by making proposals to Internet governance organizations including the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).

With regard in particular to the process for implementing internationalized country code top-level domains (IDN ccTLDs) for which ICANN started accepting applications in November 2009, Hotta and other members took a lead role in aggregating the discussion at APTLD and forming this into a proposal for presentation to ICANN with the support of the relevant organizations. This proposal became the trigger for the movement toward the worldwide distribution of internationalized domain names (IDN), which is one of the major achievements of APTLD.

Since June 2004 Hotta has been a council member of ICANN's Country Code Names Supporting Organisation (ccNSO). As a ccNSO councilor representing the Asia Pacific region, Hotta has made proactive contributions in the activities of ICANN such as in the development of an accountability framework for forming a formal relationship between ICANN and ccTLD, investigation into global policies regarding IDN, and investigation into a revision of the constitutional document of ICANN along with the establishment of IDN ccTLD. Moreover, as a member of APTLD, since 2002 he has contributed to the association's activities through his presentations at meetings and participation in discussions.

Hotta'a selection as a director of the board of APTLD at this time is seen as an affirmation of the approval he had received for his contributions to APTLD in the past and for his activities and achievements as a councilor of ccNSO.

APTLD plans to investigate the future path the organization should take and intends to make every effort to realize its objectives over the next two years. At the beginning of this new era in which the numbers of registries including IDN ccTLDs and new generic top-level domains (gTLDs) are increasing. Hotta will chair the Mission & Objectives working group that will investigate the mission and purpose of APTLD in the new age.

As an enterprise that supports the foundations of the network infrastructure, JPRS will continue to make further efforts to contribute to the Internet community not only in Japan and the Asia Pacific region but throughout the rest of the world.

About JPRS

JPRS is a leading service provider for management and registration of domain names and for the domain name system (DNS) operations. The company was established on December 26, 2000. As a company dedicated to maintaining the Internet infrastructure of Japan, JPRS operates under a corporate philosophy which aims to contribute to the expansion of the Internet and to building a better future for people and society.

Glossary

*1.ccTLD

　 Acronym for country code Top Level Domain.
　 Top level domain allocated to each country or region. The .jp domain that represents Japan is one such ccTLD.

*2.ICANN(Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers)

　It is the private sector, non-profit corporation created in 1998 in the US to coordinate Internet infrastructure resources including domain names, IP addresses, protocols and root servers.

*3.Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs)

　Domain names that include non-alphanumeric characters, are called "Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs)". IDNs can contain various scripts in the world, such as Kanji, Hiragana, Katakana, Hangul, Cyrillic, Arabic.

*4.ccNSO(Country Code Names Supporting Organisation)

　It is one of the organizations supporting the activities of ICANN. As an organization supporting the entire ccTLD structure, ccNSO has the role of developing policy plans related to global issues across all ccTLDs in cooperation with other supporting organizations and committees of ICANN and acting as an advisory to the board of ICANN. JPRS participates in ccNSO as the .jp registry administrator.

References

1. APTLD Board
   http://www.aptld.org/content/aptld-board
   
2. APTLD(Asia Pacific Top Level Domain Association)
   http://www.aptld.org/
   
3. ICANN(Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers)
   http://www.icann.org/
   
4. ccNSO(Country Code Names Supporting Organisation)
   http://ccnso.icann.org/
   

Press Contacts

ITU council solicits public comments with regards to the content of "DRAFT OF THE FUTURE ITRS" or any other matter related to WCIT to all stakeholders until November 3rd, 2012.

As to the ITR and WCIT, JPRS has strong concern that the speed of growth and development of the Internet would seriously ruined. In the comments, JPRS strongly hopes that they don't have excess influence to such original frameworks of the Internet.

JPRS's comments submitted to ITU are as follows.

References:

Notice of Inquiry
World Conference on International Telecommunications
"DRAFT OF THE FUTURE ITRS"
http://www.itu.int/en/wcit-12/Documents/draft-future-itrs-public.pdf

WCIT-12: Public Views and Opinions
http://www.itu.int/en/wcit-12/Pages/public.aspx

About '.日本'
http://jprs.co.jp/en/notice/dotnippon.html

Japan Registry Services Co., Ltd. (JPRS: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President Koki Higashida) today announces that it has applied for ".jprs" as ICANN (*1) opened the application window for the new gTLD program.

ICANN has expanded new gTLDs (top-level domains such as ".com" and ".net" ) twice in the past, in 2000 and 2003. In those times, certain limits were placed on the number of new gTLDs to be established, and all gTLD applications were evaluated against the criteria in light of the values created by the gTLDs.

In the new gTLD program of 2012, ICANN did not set such limits placed in the past, and accepted all applications submitted from January 12 to May 30, 2012. ICANN has announced that the applied gTLDs shall be approved, in principle, if all the program requirements are satisfied.

".jprs" has been applied by JPRS as a TLD with a primary purpose of research and development for the Internet. It is intended to provide an environment where autonomous research pertaining to the Internet can be conducted, and it is aiming to serve a wide purpose with the knowledge gained through its operations.

JPRS will make use of the knowledge gained through ".jprs" operations by providing research results for the ".jp" development to achieve better services. Additionally, JPRS plans to leverage ".jprs" for the purpose of gaining recognition of domain names, raising awareness of correct usage, and providing valuable information for the entire Internet community.

In order to establish ".jprs," the application must get through the evaluation process conducted by ICANN, and then we must enter into a registry agreement with ICANN. We estimate that if ICANN is able to start the evaluation process sometime this year(2012), then ".jprs" domain shall be established in mid 2013.

As a leading company supporting and upholding the Internet/network infrastructure, JPRS will continue to make every effort to provide better services for the expansion of the Internet and to create a better future for people and society.

About JPRS

JPRS is a leading service provider for management and registration of domain names and for the domain name system (DNS) operations. The company was established on December 26, 2000. As a company dedicated to maintaining the Internet infrastructure of Japan, JPRS operates under a corporate philosophy which aims to contribute to the expansion of the Internet and to building a better future for people and society.

References

1. ".jprs" - The Background and Purpose of Our New gTLD Establishment -
   http://jprs.co.jp/en/notice/whatisdotjprs-e.pdf

Explanation of terms

*1. ICANN (The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers)

ICANN is a non-profit corporation established in October 1998, with the goal of coordinating and managing the Internet resources globally.

The tasks of ICANN include allocation of IP (Internet Protocol) address space, assignment of protocol identifiers, name system management for gTLD (generic Top-Level Domain) and ccTLD (country code Top-Level Domain) and system administration of root servers.

http://www.icann.org/

Press Contacts

Japan Registry Services Co., Ltd. (JPRS)
TEL:+81-3-5215-8451
FAX:+81-3-5215-8452
E-mail: press@jprs.co.jp
http://jprs.co.jp/en/
Chiyoda First Bldg. East 13F, 3-8-1 Nishi-Kanda
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0065, Japan

JPRS posted English translation of "JP Domain Name Registry Report 2011." This is the annual report for 2011, briefing that year's activities performed by JPRS, in relation to its management and administration of .JP top-level domain.

Translation: JP Domain Name Registry Report 2011 (PDF)
http://jprs.co.jp/doc/report/registry-report-2011-e.pdf

Original: JP Domain Name Registry Report 2011 (in Japanese, PDF)
http://jprs.co.jp/doc/report/registry-report-2011.pdf

Note: This English translation is provided only for reference.

In November 2012, JPRS will create a new domain name space for Prefecture Type JP Domain Names consisting of the names of the 47 prefectures of Japan.
Prior to launching the service in November, JPRS will start to accept applications for priority registration from the holders of trademark rights from July 16, and applications for concurrent registration from September 17.
An outline of the service and detailed information including the method and schedule for applications are described below.

The Prefecture Type JP Domain Name space includes the names of the 47 prefectures in Japan, with the structure, "example.tokyo.jp" and "example.nagasaki.jp" for example. This enables the address of a website or email to show the relationship with the local community. Any person or organization having a residential address in Japan can register any number of domain names. The third level domain (the portion "example" in the examples above) can be registered in both ASCII and Japanese. In principle, the applicable service contents and rules conform to those of General-use JP Domain Names ("example.jp").

Examples:

• "travel.aomori.jp"
  
• "onsen.gunma.jp"
  
• "お花見.kyoto.jp" ("お花見" means cherry blossom viewing)
  
• "お祭り.tokushima.jp" ("お祭り" means a festival )
  

Outline of Prefecture Type JP Domain Names

• Since the Prefecture Type JP Domain Name includes one of the names of the 47 prefectures in Japan in its structure, such as "OOO.hokkaido.jp", "OOO.tokyo.jp" and "OOO.nagasaki.jp", it enables the address of a website or email to show the relationship with the local community.
  
• Any person or organization having a residential address in Japan can register any number of domain names.
  
• The third level domain (the portion "OOO" in the examples above) can be registered in both ASCII and Japanese.
  
• In principle, the applicable service content and rules conform to those of General-use JP Domain Names ("OOO.jp").
  

1. Application for priority registration: from July 16, 2012 (Monday, a public holiday) to August 19, 2012 (Sunday)
   In this period, JPRS will accept applications from holders of trademark rights to register the same character string as that of the trademark. One character string can be filed per trademark. If more than one application is submitted for the same character string, the registrant will be decided by drawing lots.
   Prospective candidates may also include holders of trademarks registered through international applications for trademark registration provided the target area is limited to Japan.


2. Application for concurrent registration: from September 17, 2012 (Monday, a public holiday) to October 21, 2012 (Sunday)
   After the closing day of priority registration, JPRS will accept domain name applications from any qualified applicant. This concurrent registration will treat all applications filed during the above-mentioned period as being received at the same time. If more than one application is submitted for the same character string, the registrant will be decided by drawing lots.


3. Application for general registration: from November 19, 2012 (Sunday)
   The domain names applied for in the preliminary registration applications will become effective on November 18, 2012. Then, from November 19, JPRS will accept applications for general registration in order of arrival.

All registration applications shall be filed via JPRS partners. Please note that the schedule for registration applications may vary depending on each JP partner.

For details of this service, please see the reference URL "Launch of Prefecture Type JP Domain Names" (Japanese only).
　With the introduction of Prefecture Type JP Domain Names, JPRS stopped receiving new applications to register conventional Geographic Type JP Domain Names on March 31, 2012. The names registered up to that point in time, however, may continue to be used as in the past. For details, please see the reference URL "Termination of new registration for Geographic Type JP Domain Names (Japanese only)."

Glossary

* Geographic Type JP Domain Name
Geographic Type JP Domain Name. Japanese local public bodies and their organs, special wards and their organs, hospitals, individuals residing in Japan, and organizations having registration eligibility for any of the organizational type domain names: AC, CO, ED, GO, OR, NE, GR.

References

• JPRS will create a new locality-oriented domain name space, Prefecture Type JP Domain Names (Japanese only)
  http://jprs.co.jp/press/2011/110926.html

• Prefecture Type JP Domain Names (Japanese only)
  http://jprs.jp/info/jp-dom/prefecture.html

• Termination of new registration application for Geographic Type JP Domain Names (Japanese only)
  http://jprs.jp/info/notice/20110926-geo.html

JPRS is pleased to release the English translation of "DNSSEC Technology Experiment Report / Verification of Functionality and Performance" and "DNSSEC Technology Experiment Report / Operational Design". These reports are designed to introduce case examples to share knowledge and results gained through DNSSEC technology experiments which JPRS carried out in cooperation with domestic ISPs, equipment vendors and hosting providers, etc. in 2010.

"DNSSEC Technology Experiment Report / Verification of Functionality
and Performance" English Translation (PDF: 825KB)
http://jprs.jp/dnssec/doc/DNSSEC-testbed-report-fpv1.0-E.pdf

Original (in Japanese, PDF: 1076KB)
http://jprs.jp/dnssec/doc/DNSSEC-testbed-report-fpv1.0.pdf

"DNSSEC Technology Experiment Report / Operational Design"
English Translation (PDF: 448KB)
http://jprs.jp/dnssec/doc/DNSSEC-testbed-report-odv1.0-E.pdf

Original (in Japanese, PDF: 522KB)
http://jprs.jp/dnssec/doc/DNSSEC-testbed-report-odv1.0.pdf

Note: The above English documents are provided only for reference.

Acknowledgment: These translations are contributed by APNIC (Asia Pacific Network Information Centre) . We would like to express our sincere thanks to APNIC.
APNIC and JPRS collaborate to translate "DNSSEC Technology Experiment Report"

On September 22th, JPRS revised "DNSSEC Practice Statement for the JP Zone (JP DPS)". This action is a consequence of annual re-examination of JP DPS, which is regulated in section 1.4.3 of JP DPS itself.

The new version of JP DPS is found on the following URI.

• Japanese (original) : https://jprs.jp/doc/dnssec/jp-dps-jpn.v1.1.html
• English (translation) : https://jprs.jp/doc/dnssec/jp-dps-eng.v1.1.html

cf. the current version of JP DPS;

• Japanese (original) : https://jprs.jp/doc/dnssec/jp-dps-jpn.v1.0.html
• English (translation) : https://jprs.jp/doc/dnssec/jp-dps-eng.v1.0.html

Notes:

  Document version: 1.1
  Effective date: October 1st, 2011
  Update overview:
  - Clarified specification for NSEC3 parameters
  - Deleted unnecessary description of NSEC3PARAM
  (For more information, "Update History" is attached to the document)

JPRS posted English translation of "JP Domain Name Registry Report 2010." This is the annual report for 2010, briefing that year's activities performed by JPRS, in relation to its management and administration of .JP top-level domain.

Translation: JP Domain Name Registry Report 2010 (PDF)
http://jprs.co.jp/doc/report/registry-report-2010-e.pdf

Original: JP Domain Name Registry Report 2010 (in Japanese, PDF)
http://jprs.co.jp/doc/report/registry-report-2010.pdf

Note: This English translation is provided only for reference.

On January 16, Japan Registry Services Co., Ltd. (JPRS: head office at Chiyoda-ku Tokyo; President: Koki Higashida) completed the release of DNSSEC feature in the JP domain name service in order to improve the security of JP domain names.

DNSSEC is a security extension of DNS that uses digital signatures through public key cryptography. With this release, registrants of JP domain names can register the registrants' key information to the JP zone, which in turn enables Internet users to validate the response with its digital signature(s) and to detect bogus DNS responses. Consequently, the release will considerably reduce the risks including phishing, etc.

JPRS considers that DNSSEC can effectively prevent the security threats caused by bogus DNS responses. Based on this understanding, it has introduced the specifications in Japan and performed testbeds and demonstrations in cooperation with the DNS operators at home and abroad with an aim to deploy DNSSEC. On October 17, 2010, JPRS started signing the JP zone and registered the key information (DS resource record) of the JP zone in the root on December 10, 2010. After confirming that the JP zone was properly validated by the root zone key as a trust point, and that existing DNS infrastructures were not adversely affected, JPRS has completed the deployment of DNSSEC in the JP domain name service this time.

Along with this service launch, JP Registrars explained their plan with regard to DNSSEC deployment as follows.

In addition, detailed information about DNSSEC operation is available at the following JPRS webpages.

• Collection of DNSSEC-related materials developed by JPRS
  http://jprs.jp/dnssec/documents1.html (Japanese only)
• References (RFC, etc.)
  http://jprs.jp/dnssec/documents2.html

About JPRS
JPRS is the company whose main businesses are to provide services related to management and registration of domain names and operate the domain name system (DNS). It was established on December 26, 2000. As a company dedicated to maintaining the Internet infrastructure of Japan, JPRS contributes to the development of the Internet and the building of a better future for everyone.

References

1. JPRS Plans to Implement DNSSEC in JP Domain Name Services
   http://jprs.co.jp/en/topics/2009/090709.html

Press Contacts

On January 14th, 2011, JPRS published "DNSSEC Practice Statement forthe JP Zone (JP DPS)".

DPS (DNSSEC Practice Statement) is a document in which zone operator states ideas of security, policies, practices and procedures with regard to operational issues of DNSSEC.

DPS is comparable to a CPS (Certification Practice Statement) in PKI(Public Key Infrastructure), and the framework is proposed and being standardized in IETF. JP DPS adopts the DPS framework described in draft-ietf-dnsop-dnssec-dps-framework-03 (see References).

The full version of JP DPS is published in the following URI.

• Japanese : https://jprs.jp/doc/dnssec/jp-dps-jpn.html
• English(*) : https://jprs.jp/doc/dnssec/jp-dps-eng.html
  (*)English version is provided for informational purpose only.

References:

• JPRS Plans to Implement DNSSEC in JP Domain Name Services in January 2011
  http://jprs.co.jp/en/topics/2010/100728.html
• DNSSEC Policy & Practice Statement Framework
  http://tools.ietf.org/html/draft-ietf-dnsop-dnssec-dps-framework-03

Hirofumi Hotta, Director of JPRS, was re-appointed as the Council Member of ICANN ccNSO (Country Code Names Supporting Organisation).

ccNSO, one of ICANN's Supporting Organisations, was established under the bylaws of ICANN. ccNSO bears important roles in nurturing consensus across the ccTLD community relating various issues concerning ccTLD's, and in making policy recommendations to ICANN Board, through coordination with the other ICANN Supporting Organisations and Committees.

ccNSO Council Member is to be first nominated by the other ccTLD managers and then selected through election. Hotta, who has been the Councilor since June 2004, has vigorously contributed to ICANN activities such as establishing Accountability Framework (a framework to formalize the relationship between ICANN and ccTLD managers), establishing global policies concerning Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs), and reviewing the ICANN Bylaws in line with the introduction of IDN ccTLD's.

Due to termination of his current term as the Councilor, and through the process to select the successor, Hotta has been elected again to represent Asia-Pacific region. He will cotinue to serve until March 2014.

The major challenges for the ccTLD community today is to create overall policies related to the introduction of IDN ccTLD's and to build up secure and stable ccTLD service through collaboration at the global level. By contributing to ccNSO, Hotta and JPRS will make full use of their knowledge and expertise in addressing these issues, as well as other relevant issues.

References:

• ccNSO Council Nominations and Elections Report
  http://ccnso.icann.org/about/elections/election-report-28oct10-en.htm
• ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers)
  http://www.icann.org/
• ccNSO (Country Code Names Supporting Organisation)
  http://ccnso.icann.org/

Introduction

We, JPRS, have developed a plan to implement DNSSEC [*1], the technology that adds improved security to the Domain Name System. Currently, we are working on preparation for the deployment in JP domain name services on 16 January 2011. The purpose of this document is to present a background of the implementation and future actions.

*1 DNSSEC: DNS Security Extensions

Background

DNS is a vital mechanism which provides the core function of the Internet, and its operational stability is required in line with the growing importance of the Internet as part of the social infrastructure. In addition, under the circumstance where security threats caused by frauds of DNS responses have turned into reality, a strong demand for worry-free DNS which excludes these threats has grown in late years.

Aiming at improving DNS security, IETF [*2] advanced the consideration to establish the security extension of DNS called DNSSEC. DNSSEC adds signatures to DNS responses with the public key encryption scheme. This enables receivers of the DNS response to validate whether or not the response is correct and complete.

JPRS regards DNSSEC as the most effective and feasible current solution against the security threats caused by frauds of DNS responses. Based on this view, JPRS has researched and developed the method of implementing DNSSEC into large-scale zones, while discussing operational technology and roadmap toward diffusion through collaboration with DNS-related parties from home and abroad.

At present, we are conducting tests and reviews of specifications in order to implement DNSSEC, as well as performing technological evaluation with a wide range of DNS-related parties listed below.

In July 2010, ICANN [*3] introduced DNSSEC in DNS Root Servers, the highest stratum in the DNS. This contributes to the development of　an environment promoting DNSSEC deployment among TLDs. Based on these circumstances, JPRS determined to implement DNSSEC in JP domain name services on 16 January 2011.

Actions to be taken by related parties

DNSSEC is a mechanism to validate integrity and authenticity of DNS response, which is realized by supporting DNSSEC on both DNS providers' and users' side. Consequently, various DNS-related parties need to move ahead on their own plan to handle DNSSEC.

JPRS will continue to focus on deploying DNSSEC in JP DNS and JP domain name services provided by JPRS itself, while conducting promotional and educational activities and providing information to different DNS-related parties categorized as follows.

As DNS forms a hierarchical structure stretched from the root, it is demanded that DNSSEC be introduced into all the layers of DNS from the highest layer of root DNS to DNS at the TLD level and DNS server for each domain name.

Use of DNS does not close within the national borders or respective TLDs. With a view to contributing to spread of DNSSEC over the whole Internet and enhancing DNS security, JPRS will further pursue information exchange among the TLD registries.

DNSSEC requires specific procedures including signing DNS information and registering signing key information in DNS server for each domain name.　 Targeting the operators of each JP domain names, JPRS will keep on providing information on DNSSEC operation through seminars and the media.

Validation of DNS responses in DNSSEC is done by cache DNS servers administered in ISPs, universities and companies. JPRS will carry on building deeper cooperation with domestic ISPs and developing activities such as providing information on DNSSEC operation through seminars and the media.

To enable JP domain name registrants to use DNSSEC service provided by JPRS, it is required that the services of JP Registrars support DNSSEC. JPRS is going to cooperate with JP Registrars to promote the arrangement of DNSSEC service environment.

Internet users are not required to take any special action, as the necessary validation on the users' side is done in the cache DNS servers of their providers such as ISPs. However, it is important for the users to be aware of DNSSEC and whether he/she is in the environment supporting DNSSEC or not. To help ensure this circumstance, JPRS is going to provide explanatory information on DNSSEC for the users.

As mentioned above, we will continue to promote actions by various related parties toward dissemination of DNSSEC, with an eye to implementing DNSSEC into JP domain name services in January 2011.

Future plan

Oct. 2010      Start signing JP zone with DNSSEC (Completed on 18 Oct. 2010)
16 Jan. 2011  Introduction of DNSSEC in JP domain name services
(Registration of signing key starts, and DNSSEC service will be provided in JP DNS)

Revision history

On July 15th, 2010, JPRS released Internationalized Domain Name Toolkit 2.0 (idnkit-2.0).

idnkit implements specifications for Internationalized Domain Name (IDN) which is standardized by IETF, and provides the following features:

• IDN encoding conversion tool helpful for administrators of IDN sites and IDN zones
• Useful APIs (libraries) for developers who desire to make their application software comply with IDN standards

The idnkit-2.0 released today is compliant with new IDN standards (*1), and is based on idnkit-1.0 (*2) developed and released by JPNIC.

It is considered that IDN's compliance to new IDN standards will progress hereafter. By providing the above features at an early stage, idnkit-2.0 will help site administrators and application developers evaluate and adopt new standards.

The idnkit-2.0 is available at the following page:

IDN Info by JPRS
http://jprs.co.jp/idn/index-e.html

For inquiries on idnkit-2.0, please contact the following e-mail address:

idnkit-info@jprs.co.jp

(*1)

Current IDN standards are called IDNA2003 according to the year they were published, i.e., 2003. Since that year, through operational experiences of IDNs with IDNA2003, several issues such as Unicode version dependency and confusion caused by using symbol characters have been identified. To solve these issues, revision of the standards proceeded at IETF. The new standards are called IDNA2008, as their basic specifications were agreed in 2008. Though the RFCs for IDNA2008 are yet to be published as of July 14th, 2010, their specifications have already been established, and there is no problem in implementing these new specifications.

(*2)

The idnkit-2.0 is the revised version of idnkit-1.0 which is an IDNA2003-compliant toolkit, developed and released by JPNIC. This revision was made by JPRS to comply with IDNA2008.

To download idnkit-1.0, access the following page:
http://www.nic.ad.jp/ja/idn/idnkit/download/

The following are the major changes from idnkit-1.0:

• Compliant with IDNA2008 (but not compliant with IDNA2003);
• Commands such as idn wrapper and runidn are removed, since major browsers are now IDN-compliant and no longer need these commands.
• Name of the configuration file is changed to idn2.conf (~/idn2rc) to prevent conflict caused by installing idnkit-2.0 concurrently with idnkit-1.0. In addition, name of the IDN encoding conversion tool is changed to idnconv2.

For details, please refer to NEWS file contained in idnkit-2.0.

]]>