Currency in Japan – Japanese Yen

500 Yen Coins

Japanese currency is issued by Bank of Japan, including the notes and coins. In Japan, there is a high popularity to use cashes as well as coins, so it’s important to know something about the money. Meanwhile, it is also the third-most traded currency in the international exchange market, after US dollars and the euros.

 Currency Unit: yen (having no plural form) / 円 in Japanese
 Symbol: ¥
 Code: JPY

Main Notes Used in Japan

The notes of 1,000 yen, 5,000 yen, and 10,000 yen are frequently used in Japan, while it’s reported that the newest series of notes are issued in July 2024. Although the new notes would be issued, the old notes could also be utilized over a period.
Besides, the notes of 2,000 yen are not commonly used around the nation, so it’s not redesigned; it’s most likely to see a note of 2,000 yen in Okinawa probably.

Notes of 1,000 Yen:

 Size: 76x150mm
 Words & Numbers: “千円” & “1,000”
 Color: bluish
The portrait of Noguchi Hideyo, a renowned medical scientist in the late 19th and early 20th century, is printed on the right side of the front.
At the back, there is the image of Mount Fuji, Lake Motosu-ko with cherry blossoms on the left side.

For the new notes of 1,000 yen, the figure on the front will be changed into Kitasato Shibasaburō, who was also a contemporaneous medical scientist and made a great contribution to medicines and medical education of Japan.
On the back, the famous Japanese ukiyo-e woodcut painting Under the Great Wave off Kanagawa of the series Fugaku sanjūrokkei (36 Views of Mt. Fuji) will replace the old pattern.

Notes of 5,000 Yen:

 Size: 76x156mm
 Words & Numbers: “五千円” & “5,000”
 Color: purplish
Higuchi Ichiyo, a highly-praised female poet and novelist in the late 19th century, is printed on the front.
The painting of irises, a part of the screen painting by Ogata Korin (17th century) is at the back.

New notes of 5,000 yen will enter circulation with a portrait of Tsuda Umeko (1864-1929 AD), who was a great educator in Meiji era, on the front and Japanese wisteria flowers at the back.

Notes of 10,000 Yen:

 Size: 76x160mm
 Words & Numbers: “壱万円” & “10,000”
 Color: light brown
For the portrait on the front, it is Fukuzawa Yukichi, one of greatest writers, educators and ideologists in the 19th century.
On the reverse, there is the pattern of Phoenix Statue on the roof in Byodoin Temple, which was constructed in the middle of 9th century.

For the new pattern, the portrait will be replaced by that of Shibusawa Eiichi (1840-1931 AD), an active role as the samurai, politician and industrialist in Japan history.
The reverse side of new notes will be printed with Marunouchi Building of Tokyo Station.

Coins in Japan

Coins are often used likewise in Japan. The coins issued include those of 1 yen, 5 yen, 10 yen, 50 yen, 100 yen, and 500 yen.

Coins	Materials	Diameter	Weight	Patterns
				Front	Back
1 yen	Aluminum	20mm	1g	A young tree	Arabic numeral “1”
5 yen	Copper & zinc	22mm	3.75g	Ears of rice, peaceful water & a toothed gear around the round hole	Sprouting plants Word “日本国” (Japan)
10 yen	Copper; a little zinc & tin	23.5mm	4.5g	the Phoenix Hall of Byodoin Temple, arabesques	Withe of evergreen tree arabic numeral “10”
50 yen	Copper & nickel	21mm	4g	Chrysanthemum flowers	Arabic numeral “50”
100 yen	Copper & nickel	22.6mm	4.8g	Cherry blossoms	Arabic numeral “100”
500 yen	Copper, zinc gilded on the surface, nickel on the outer edge	26.5mm	7.1g	Paulownia plant	Bamboo leaves, citrus, “500”

    
 Copper is the major material to make coins in Japan, except that the 1 yen coins are made of aluminum completely.
 Only the 5 yen & 50 yen coins have a round hole in the center.
 Usually on the front of coins, there are words of “日本国” (Japan) up and “一円(1 yen)/十円(10 yen)/五十円(50 yen)/百円(100 yen)/五百円(500 yen)” down correspondingly. Only the 5 yen coins have the word “五円” (5 yen) on the front but the word “日本国” at the back.
 The issuance year in Japanese chronology is often on the back side.
 The edge of 1, 5 & 10 yen coins is smooth, while it of 50 & 100 yen is grooved slightly. The edge of 500 yen coins are milled with helical ridges.

Is it possible to get counterfeit money in Japan?

There is no exception of counterfeit money in Japan, just like in other countries around the world. However, a low rate of counterfeit money is guaranteed there.

For the high rate to use cashes in the country, the latest anti-fake technologies are utilized on Japanese currency, including but not limited to security stamps, watermark, sub-images, holographic laser images, intaglio printing and micro lettering. Due to the high technologies, there would be a very high cost to make counterfeit money, which makes counterfeit money a bad business in Japan.

On the other hand, the offenders to produce counterfeit money would be sentenced to imprisonment for three years at least or even the life imprisonment. Also, they would become the focus around the nation and be blamed vehemently by media and the public.

Friendly Tips:

 Although it’s unlikely to receive counterfeit money in big cities, especially the formal, famous and most-visited shops and malls, you’d better be careful when seeing a large-denomination note like 10,000 yen.
 In remote areas, it’s advised to use small-denomination money as much as possible, to reduce the possibility of changing notes and coins.
 Please exchange money at the formal and recognized stores at airports, banks, etc. Never exchange money with private individuals.

Read More: