Understanding Japanese Banknotes and Currency

Japanese banknotes are an essential part of the country's economy, and understanding how they work can be a valuable skill for travelers and residents alike.

The Japanese currency is called the yen, and it's divided into 100 sen, although sen are no longer in circulation.

There are seven denominations of Japanese banknotes, ranging from 1,000 yen to 10,000 yen.

Each banknote has a unique design and security features to prevent counterfeiting, including watermarks, holograms, and microprinting.

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The official currency of Japan is quite easy to use once you get used to it. Japanese banknotes come in various denominations, including ￥10,000, ￥5,000, and ￥1,000 paper bills.

New banknotes of ￥1,000, ￥5,000, and ￥10,000 are being issued from July 3, 2024. These new banknotes feature portraits of notable Japanese figures, including Eiichi Shibusawa, Umeko Tsuda, and Shibasaburo Kitasato.

The new banknotes are designed to prevent the circulation of counterfeit money, with advanced technologies incorporated to address this issue. In fiscal year 2023, a total of 7,681 counterfeit notes were discovered, highlighting the need for these new banknotes.

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The most common Japanese banknotes you'll see are the ￥10,000, ￥5,000, and ￥1,000 paper bills, with the ￥2,000 paper bill being a rare sight.

Banks in Japan are very proactive about replacing old banknotes with new ones, which helps explain why Japanese paper bills are often in great condition.

You might be surprised to learn that from July 3, 2024, new banknotes of ￥1,000, ￥5,000, and ￥10,000 will be issued, so keep an eye out for those.

Japanese paper bills are designed to be easy to use, making it a breeze for visitors to navigate everyday transactions.

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Eiichi Shibusawa, known as the "Father of Japanese Modernization", is featured on the new 10,000 yen note. He played a role in establishing and nurturing around 500 companies, including Japan's first bank, Dai-Ichi Kokuritsu Ginko (now Mizuho Bank).

The portrait on the 10,000 yen note is based on several photographs taken when he was 70, but has been remade to represent his dynamic and youthful appearance in his early 60s. This is because the designers wanted to capture his energetic and youthful spirit.

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Umeko Tsuda, a pioneer in women's education in Japan, is featured on the new 5,000 yen note. She became one of Japan's first female exchange students at the age of six in 1871.

The back of the 5,000 yen note features the wisteria flower, which is mentioned in ancient texts such as the Kojiki and Manyoshu and has been cherished in Japan for centuries. This beautiful flower is a symbol of Japan's rich cultural heritage.

Shibasaburo Kitasato, known as the "Father of Modern Medicine" in Japan, is featured on the new 1,000 yen note. He achieved the world's first pure culture of the tetanus bacillus in 1889, which was previously considered impossible.

The portrait on the 1,000 yen note is based on several photographs of him in his 50s, chosen to reflect his dignity, stature, and peak professional years.

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As of 2024, the number of ways to pay in Japan has proliferated.

Cash is still king in Japan, and it's essential to carry enough cash to cover situations where credit cards and electronic money aren't accepted.

Many shops, vending machines, and ticket machines at tourist attractions still only accept cash.

In Japan, credit cards and electronic money are widely used, making transactions convenient in many places.

Be sure to take note of the new banknotes introduced in July 2024, along with the innovative designs and technologies used in both the banknotes and coins.

Cash is the only accepted payment method at event stalls, local shops, souvenir stores, some restaurants, and taxis.

You can use credit cards and electronic money for payments in addition to cash in many places in Japan.

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Japanese currency is surprisingly easy to use once you get used to it, despite the growth of credit card and e-money use in Japan. You'll still find yourself paying by cash in some occasions in your day to day life.

The most common banknotes you'll see in Japan are the ￥10,000, ￥5,000, and ￥1,000 paper bills. In rare cases, you may even come across a ￥2,000 paper bill.

Japanese banknotes are commonly referred to as "osatsu." All banknotes bear the inscription "Nippon Ginko" (Bank of Japan) since they are issued by the Bank of Japan. Japan's advanced anti-counterfeiting technology makes its banknote printing techniques some of the best in the world.

The 10,000 yen note is the highest denomination in Japanese currency. The front features a portrait of Yukichi Fukuzawa, a prominent Meiji-era enlightenment thinker. The back depicts the phoenix statue from Byodo-in Temple in Kyoto.

The 5,000 yen note features a portrait of Ichiyo Higuchi, a novelist and poet from the Meiji era, on the front. The back showcases a portion of the national treasure "Kakitsubata-zu" (Irises) painted by Ogata Korin, a prominent Edo-period artist.

You may not have seen a 2,000 yen note before, as they are relatively rare. Introduced in 2000, the front features Shureimon, a gate at Shuri Castle in Okinawa, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

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The 1,000 yen note is the most commonly used banknote for everyday transactions, such as payments in restaurants. The front features a portrait of Hideyo Noguchi, a prominent bacteriologist known for his research on yellow fever and a strong candidate for the Nobel Prize.

New banknotes have been introduced in Japan, featuring Eiichi Shibusawa on the 10,000 yen note, Umeko Tsuda on the 5,000 yen note, and Shibasaburo Kitasato on the 1,000 yen note.

You can still use your existing yen, even if new banknotes have been issued. Old banknotes are valid indefinitely, and there are currently 22 types of valid banknotes.

Old banknotes that are no longer issued can be exchanged for currently issued ones at the main and branch offices of the Bank of Japan.

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Japan's currency has a rich history, and understanding the evolution of its banknotes can be fascinating. The Series E notes, introduced in 2004, were a significant update to Japan's currency, blending modern security features with a deep respect for its history.

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These notes circulated for over two decades and included the 10,000 yen note featuring Yukichi Fukuzawa on the front and the phoenix statue from Byodo-in Temple in Kyoto on the back. Both versions of the 10,000 yen note remain in circulation today, so you'll encounter two types featuring Yukichi Fukuzawa.

The Series E notes also included the 5,000 yen note featuring Ichiyo Higuchi on the front and a portion of the national treasure "Kakitsubata-zu" (Irises) painted by Ogata Korin on the back. This artwork is considered one of the most significant pieces in the history of Japanese painting.

The 2,000 yen note, although relatively rare, featured Shureimon, a gate at Shuri Castle in Okinawa, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, on the front. The back included an illustration from the 38th chapter, "Suzumushi", of the national treasure "The Tale of Genji" handscroll, along with a portrait of Murasaki Shikibu, the author and poet of this classic work.

The 1,000 yen note, which is the most commonly used banknote for everyday transactions, featured a portrait of Hideyo Noguchi on the front and iconic symbols of Japan: Mount Fuji and cherry blossoms, on the back.

Japan's Note Usage History is a fascinating topic. Japan's currency has a rich history dating back to the 8th century when the country first introduced coins.

In 1871, the yen was officially adopted as the national currency, replacing the previous system of feudal coins and other forms of money. This marked a significant transformation in Japan's economy.

The Meiji government introduced yen notes as part of this modernization effort. These early notes were simple and functional.

Over the decades, designers introduced new yen notes with updated designs and denominations to meet economic demands and technological advancements. Each series of yen notes tells the story of the era it debuted.

Yen notes have become artifacts that offer a glimpse into Japan's history, from the Meiji period to today.

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The yen has a rich history that dates back to the Meiji government's policy to modernize Japan's economy in the late 19th century.

The yen was designed based on the European Decimal Monetary System and was officially adopted on May 10, 1871.

Before the yen, the official currency was the mon (文) which was used from the Muromachi period (1336) until 1870.

The introduction of the yen aimed to strengthen the ability to prevent counterfeiting and to enhance the identifiability of denominations, which ultimately boosted the economy and created demand in various industries.

The Japanese banknotes have incorporated some really cool technologies to make them more secure and harder to counterfeit. One of the standout features is the 3D Hologram Technology, which makes the portrait appear to rotate in three dimensions depending on the viewing angle.

This technology is used on the 10,000 yen, 5,000 yen, and 1,000 yen notes, with the location changing on each note. The 10,000 yen note has it at the upper left on the front, the 5,000 yen note at the top center, and the 1,000 yen note at the lower left.

The banknotes also feature High-Precision Watermark technology, which creates intricate continuous patterns that are visible when held up to the light. This is a new feature introduced with this series and can be seen on the 10,000 yen, 5,000 yen, and 1,000 yen notes.

Some other notable features include Latent Image, which appears when the banknote is tilted, and Microprinting, which is extremely small text that is too tiny to be replicated by color copiers.

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The new banknotes feature some really cool technologies that make them stand out. One of the most impressive is the 3D Hologram Technology, which makes the portrait appear to rotate in three dimensions depending on the viewing angle.

The 3D hologram is used in different locations on the 10,000 yen, 5,000 yen, and 1,000 yen notes. On the 10,000 yen note, it's at the upper left on the front, while on the 5,000 yen note, it's at the top center, and on the 1,000 yen note, it's at the lower left.

You can also spot a High-Precision Watermark on the 10,000 yen note, which features intricate continuous patterns around the circular area to the left of the portrait. This technology is also applied to the 5,000 yen and 1,000 yen notes.

The Latent Image on the 10,000 yen note is a fun feature that appears when the banknote is tilted. The number "10000" appears on the lower front, and the word "NIPPON" emerges to the left of the denomination number on the upper right of the back.

Another clever feature is Microprinting, which is used on the 10,000 yen note. The text "NIPPONGINKO" is printed in extremely small text on the lower right of the front and the left side of the back, making it difficult to replicate.

Special Luminescent Ink is also used on the 10,000 yen note, which glows when exposed to ultraviolet light. This adds an extra layer of security and makes the note even more interesting to look at.

The new 500 yen coin, introduced in November 2021, features new engravings on the inner edge.

The design of the new coin doesn't differ substantially from the current one, but the engravings on the inner edge give it a fresh touch.

In 2024, the Central Bank of Japan will launch an extensive redesign of bills, incorporating new historical figures on banknotes.

These figures will be well-known in Japan and will represent personalities who have contributed to the country's development and improvement.

New high-definition watermark patterns will be added to the current watermark, and holograms using state-of-the-art technology will be incorporated into the 10,000 yen and 5,000 yen notes.

For the first time, holographic stripes will be featured on the 10,000 yen and 5,000 yen notes.

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