Japan Wholly Redesigns Its National Yen Banknotes & Coin
Image via Ministry of Finance Japan
If you own a stash of Japanese yen bills, you might want to save them, as they could be collector’s items one day.
On Tuesday, Japan’s Ministry of Finance announced several redesigns to its currency. These comprise new looks for the commonly-used JP¥1,000 (US$9), JP¥5,000 (US$45), JP¥10,000 (US$90) bills, in addition to the JP¥500 (US$4.50) coin.
In place of prominent Japanese bacteriologist Hideyo Noguchi, Mount Fuji and cherry blossoms, the JP¥1,000 bill will be fronted by fellow bacteriologist Shibasaburo Kitazato and feature Katsushika Hokusai’s famous Great Wave Off Kanagawa painting.
Current JP¥1,000 bill (2004 to present)
Images via Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
Redesigned JP¥1,000 bill
Images via Ministry of Finance Japan
The JP¥5,000 denomination will swap writer Ichiyo Higuchi and a patch of irises for Umeko Tsuda, a pioneer of women’s education who grew up in the US, along with some wisteria flowers at the back.
Current JP¥5,000 bill (2004 to present)
Images via Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
Redesigned JP¥5,000 bill
Images via Ministry of Finance Japan
Replacing the current JP¥10,000 banknote displaying author Yukichi Fukuzawa and a figurine atop the Phoenix Hall of Kyoto’s Byodoin Temple is Japanese capitalism “father” Eiichi Shibusawa, who is said to have revolutionized finance practices in Japan. The back of the bill shows Tokyo Station.
Current JP¥10,000 bill (2004 to present)
Images via Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
Redesigned JP¥10,000 bill (2004 to present)
Images via Ministry of Finance Japan
The JP¥500 coin will arrive in a two-tone design in place of the current all-silver version.
Redesigned JP¥500 coin
Image via Ministry of Finance Japan
Other prominent changes include magnified numerals on the banknotes for legibility, more intricate watermarks and holograms, as well as security enhancements to prevent counterfeiting. Of course, the designs will come without the red ‘見本’ watermark, which translates to “sample.”
The last time Japan released new currency designs was in 2004. These new notes and coins are poised to go into circulation in 2024.
[via SoraNews24, images via various sources]
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