## Japan Spruces Up Its Currency – IMF F&D ## Source details **Canonical URL:** [Japan Spruces Up Its Currency – IMF F&D](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/fandd/issues/2019/09/inside-look-at-japans-new-currency-weir) ## Other formats - [Markdown version](/en/publications/fandd/issues/2019/09/inside-look-at-japans-new-currency-weir/index.md) - [Structured JSON version](/en/publications/fandd/issues/2019/09/inside-look-at-japans-new-currency-weir/index.json) - [Bundle manifest](/en/publications/fandd/issues/2019/09/inside-look-at-japans-new-currency-weir/bundle-manifest.json) ## Bibliographic details - Authors: MELINDA WEIR - Published: September 1, 2019 --- ### Overview - The Japanese government announced a complete makeover for much of its currency in April 2019. - Redesigns cover the three most commonly used banknotes: the 1,000, 5,000, and 10,000 yen bills, along with 500 yen coins. - The banknotes, which are redesigned every 20 years, will go into circulation in 2024, while the new coins will debut earlier. - The redesign marries cutting-edge anti-counterfeiting technology with world-renowned artwork and honors pioneers in science, business, and education. ### Honored figures (faces on new banknotes) - Eiichi Shibusawa (1840–1931) - Featured on the 10,000 yen note (the most widely circulated banknote in Japan). - Business leader and entrepreneur; founded the country’s first bank and approximately 500 other business and economic organizations, including the Tokyo Stock Exchange. - Involved in founding hundreds of organizations promoting social welfare, education, and international exchange. - Umeko Tsuda (1864–1929) - Featured on the 5,000 yen note. - A pioneer in women’s education; one of the first female students sent overseas on a government diplomatic program in 1871. - Founded one of Japan’s first women’s colleges in 1900 (now Tsuda University). - Shibasaburo Kitasato (1853–1931) - Featured on the 1,000 yen note. - Physician and bacteriologist; discovered a method to prevent tetanus, codiscovered the infectious agent responsible for bubonic plague, founded the Institute for Infectious Diseases, and was nominated for the Nobel Prize in 1901. ### Design, art, and cultural elements - The back of the 1,000 yen bill will highlight Hokusai’s Great Wave off Kanagawa (finished around 1830). - The print uses a new shade of blue known as “Prussian blue,” imported from Europe. - The composition frames Mt. Fuji and depicts fishermen in boats, conveying movement and stillness. - Hokusai’s prints influenced artists abroad, including Claude Monet, Mary Cassatt, and Vincent Van Gogh. - Images of wisteria flowers and a historic Tokyo train station building will appear on the backs of the 5,000 and 10,000 yen notes, respectively. - The fronts of all three new banknotes will capture movement via sophisticated 3D holographic portraits. ### Security and material features - The new banknotes incorporate multiple anti-counterfeiting components: - 3D holographic portraits that rotate when tilted (described by the Japanese Ministry of Finance as an international first). - High-definition watermarks. - Holographic stripes. - A holographic patch. - The material used for the banknotes will incorporate fibers native to Japan. ### Cash usage, policy rationale, and expectations - Despite government efforts to promote cashless transactions, cash remains very popular in Japan compared with other countries. - While the cashless payment rate is rising, the amount of currency in circulation is increasing, in part because of saving habits. - Ministry of Finance representatives state there is still a need to continue to provide currency with high confidence; they expect the new designs to achieve that. *Japan Spruces Up Its Currency – IMF F&D* --- ## Content in this bundle - **أوراق العملة - عملية تجميل للنقود** - [أوراق العملة - عملية تجميل للنقود (Markdown version)](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/september/ar/currencies.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"} - [أوراق العملة - عملية تجميل للنقود (PDF)](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/september/ar/currencies.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"} - **Cambio de imagen ● Finanzas y Desarrollo ● Septiembre de 2019** - [Cambio de imagen ● Finanzas y Desarrollo ● Septiembre de 2019 (Markdown version)](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/september/es/inside-look-at-japans-new-currency-weir.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"} - [Cambio de imagen ● Finanzas y Desarrollo ● Septiembre de 2019 (PDF)](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/september/es/inside-look-at-japans-new-currency-weir.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"} - **Monnaie métamorphosée** - [Monnaie métamorphosée (Markdown version)](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/september/fr/inside-look-at-japans-new-currency-weir.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"} - [Monnaie métamorphosée (PDF)](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/september/fr/inside-look-at-japans-new-currency-weir.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"} - **Japan Spruces Up Its Currency – IMF F&D** - [Japan Spruces Up Its Currency – IMF F&D (Markdown version)](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/september/inside-look-at-japans-new-currency-weir.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"} - [Japan Spruces Up Its Currency – IMF F&D (PDF)](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/september/inside-look-at-japans-new-currency-weir.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"} - **日本のお札の新しい顔 メリンダ・ウィアー著　ファイナンス＆ディベロップメント 2019年9月** - [日本のお札の新しい顔 メリンダ・ウィアー著　ファイナンス＆ディベロップメント 2019年9月 (Markdown version)](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/september/jp/currencynotes.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"} - [日本のお札の新しい顔 メリンダ・ウィアー著　ファイナンス＆ディベロップメント 2019年9月 (PDF)](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2019/september/jp/currencynotes.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"} - **Денежные знаки. 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