Image Source : The Asahi Shimbun

For the first time in 20 years, Japan is redesigning its banknotes. It was in 2004 when Japan had a new design of its banknotes.

As the new era, “Reiwa” is fastly approaching, the Government of Japan announced last Tuesday (April 9, 2021) that there will be a redesigned of banknotes for ¥10,000, ¥5,000 and ¥1,000 bills with additional technology to prevent imitation or fake bills. Minister Taro Aso, Finance Ministry, said the banknotes new design will be issued in the first half of the fiscal year of 2024. Not only that, ¥500 coin will also have a new design which will be issued in the first half of the fiscal year 2021.

After the issuance of the new design banknotes in 2024, Ministry of Finance, Japan said that the old banknotes will be considered valid and mostly be replaced after three to four years.

Image Source : Ministry of Finance, Japan

The front side of the new ¥10,000 banknote will feature Eiichi Shibusawa (1840-1931), known as the “Father of Japanese Capitalism”. He is a businessman and he played a big role in developing the Japanese Economy. While the back side of it will be the Tokyo Station’s Marunouchi Building.

Image Source : Ministry of Finance, Japan

Umeko Tsuda (1864-1929) will be on the front of the new ¥5,000 banknote. She is a Japanese educator and the founder of Tsuda University in Tokyo. She is also a pioneer of women’s education in the early 20th Century. Wisteria Flowers will be on the back side of this banknote.

Image Source : Ministry of Finance, Japan

For the ¥1,000 banknote new design, Shibasaburo Kitasato (1853-1931) will be featured on the front side. He is a Japanese physician and a famous bacteriologist who contributed to the foundation of modern medical science in Japan. ¥1,000 banknote backside will feature the Japanese Art “Kanagawa Oki Namiura” or the “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” by an artist named, Katsushika Hokusai.

Image Source : Ministry of Finance, Japan

And for the ¥500 coin new design, it will be made with “bicolor clad” technology that incorporates mixing copper and white copper and nickel brass which means it will become a two-tone in color. It will also feature various optical effects when viewed in different angles.