Japan to issue new banknotes

They are hardly household names, are they? Most Japanese wouldn't know them.

They are hardly household names, are they? Most Japanese wouldn't know them.

A Goku's banknote would be easier.. Lol!!..

"the father of Japanese capitalism

Is that really mark the new capitalism?

https://www.reuters.com/markets/asia/japan-pm-kishida-unveils-economic-action-plan-new-capitalism-2023-06-06/

I'm sure those diagonal bars running across the tops and sides of the bills are some sort of anti-forgery measure, but from an aesthetic standpoint they're seriously unattractive. Couldn't they have come up with something else?

I see they've kept the slight difference in size between the notes. I assume that's to assist the vision-impaired differentiate the denominations. But, the difference is so small, I wonder if it really helps? For me, it just makes the 万円 notes stick out of my wallet, and get tattered along the top edge.

But it is part of the fun visiting a new country to find out about the unknown people on their banknotes. It tells you a lot about the country.

Could they make them any more boring?

Personally, I think that the old ¥10,000 note featuring Shotokutaishi was the best.

For those who don't know it, you can see a picture here: https://aucview.aucfan.com/yahoo/u1084629877/

The reverse sides can be seen here:

https://www.boj.or.jp/en/note_tfjgs/note/n_note/index.htm

I think they look quite nice.

For me, it just makes the 万円 notes stick out of my wallet, and get tattered along the top edge.

Yeah they've really got to sort that out.

Any new ¥2000 note?

Eiichi Shibusawa, known as "the father of Japanese capitalism," Well at least they are PRINTING MORE MONEY. Must have been his idea. LOL

Always interesting to see what people the different countries choose to honor in their money, and nice to see the trend observed in other places to make the bills design relatively ugly is not present here.

virusrex

...and nice to see the trend observed in other places to make the bills design relatively ugly is not present here.

Beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder.

I'm sure those diagonal bars running across the tops and sides of the bills are some sort of anti-forgery measure, but from an aesthetic standpoint they're seriously unattractive. Couldn't they have come up with something else?

They are tactile marks to aid identification for sight impaired.

Beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder.

That is of course completely valid, but seeing examples like some of the modernized bills of Canada, Australia or the US $100 bill makes me think these ones could have resulted much much worse.

with recent inflation 20000jpy banknote could be more handy.even 50000jpy one.

design?well...

They need to make a 100,000 yen note with Shohei Ohtani on it!

Bob Fosse

arrrgh-type - "I'm sure those diagonal bars running across the tops and sides of the bills are some sort of anti-forgery measure, but from an aesthetic standpoint they're seriously unattractive. Couldn't they have come up with something else?"

They are tactile marks to aid identification for sight impaired.

I had assumed that was the reason for different sizes. If not, then I wonder why there are different sizes for each denomination?

No note larger than ¥10,000 is needed.

Why all the hatred here? These banknotes are lovely. Moreover, they encourage residents to learn the history behind the people featured on the worthless paper. Japan would be better off switching to Bitcoin.

Many countries replaced their banknotes with plastic instead of paper.

As for the design, I'm firmly in the "meh" camp. It's ... fine. Japan being Japan they of course couldn't go in a radically new direction, they would always look "old" and "traditional". It's nothing a designer will get particularly excited about, but it will serve its purpose. After two weeks noone will look twice at it.

I know all graphical elements on the bills serve a purpose and have been deliberately placed. But it still all looks a bit too hodge-podge to me, especially the different styles of fonts even between bills and the seemingly random placement of guilloches. I hope the bills look better and more consistent in real life, photos don't convey the inks and their coverage very well.

That being said, I am really looking forward to see the new 3D holograph strips. A world's first.

And I have to wonder how long it will take until all the machines will take the new money. There's a surprising number of machines out there that still wouldn't take the new 500円 coin.

There's a surprising number of machines out there that still wouldn't take the new 500円 coin.

Right? I even received one in change from a vending machine near my workplace, but trying to use it in the same vending machine... no luck. Ridiculous.

Two notes are needed in this line up

¥ 500 - bring it back, I'm tired of having to break a ¥1000 for small purchases and getting a wad of change in return

¥2000 - make it more widely circulated and accepted. The gap between ¥1000 & ¥5000 is too broad.

I'm glad they're seemingly remaining as paper rather than those awful plastic notes that feels like they've come from a kids toyset.

No note larger than ¥10,000 is needed.

You've clearly never gone through the process of buying a house here. Cash is very much needed. Not needing to walk around with lunch bags full of cash is very much needed.

Yes, before anyone whines this shouldn't be the case, the Japanese will never change.

Will they take the old ones out of circulation, or is this just an excuse to print more money as Abe234 says above? Thanks to 餓死鬼 for the link to see the other sides. Not bad, but strictly traditional.

Good to see Japan staying a country of cash in a faulty electronic world.

Put Abe on the 1 man note!

[ They are tactile marks to aid identification for sight impaired. ]

I had assumed that was the reason for different sizes.

It is, and it helps, but the size (or in Japan's case: the length) difference alone is not enough. Not all visually impaired people can tell the value of a bill just from its size, and of course it does nothing to tell its orientation. That's where unambiguous tactile features come in.

Size denomination is more of a general feature nowadays. Sighted or not, it helps to distinguish different bills from each other in order to not "raise the value" in a hurry.

factchecker

   You've clearly never gone through the process of buying a house here. Cash is very much needed. Not needing to walk around with lunch bags full of cash is very much needed.

Most people do not pay cash for buying a home.

None of these three are good looking. At least Fukuzawa Yukichi was.

Will they take the old ones out of circulation,

Not immediately. The old ones will stay in circulation until a certain date (they didn't specify), after which they won't be given out anymore.

or is this just an excuse to print more money as Abe234 says above?

Why would they need new designs for that?

This is mainly an anti-counterfeit measure. Japan is actually quite late to it, many countries replace their paper money way more frequently than every 20 years.

You've clearly never gone through the process of buying a house here. Cash is very much needed. 

Been through the process twice. No cash involved, everything goes through the bank.

As for what the new notes look like - who cares? Using actual cash is very much a rarity these days. Most everyday purchases are card, phone or watch.

Can't they find more handsome ones? It's going to be around for some time and what an eyesore.

factchecker

¥2000 - make it more widely circulated and accepted. The gap between ¥1000 & ¥5000 is too broad.

I would prefer a ¥3000 note for that purpose, half way between 1000 and 5000.