Banknote Database made by collectors, for collectors
The Great Wave off Kanazawa, finally
July 27, 2024 @ 23:30
One country notably does not release the names of those who design their banknotes so they're not kidnapped by the Yakuza and forced to counterfeit (really). Japan issued 3 new banknotes in 2024 as the "F Series". The country's banknote issues since 1946 are all separated by letter identifiers. As a legacy of the US occupation after WWII, the country's currency law only allows for certain denominations to be issued and most of them are too low for banknotes - which is why Japan only has 3 in the F series. The same format as the previous E series has continued in color, selection of portraits, and basic design language.
The lowest denomination issued is 1,000 yen, which was originally equivalent to about 10 US Dollars or 10 Euros, but at the time of writing is worth about US $6.30. Japan tried and failed to introduce a 20 US Dollar equivalent note in 2002 with the 2,000 yen note. It's still legal tender but rare. The new F series 1,000 features the portrait of Shibasaburo Kitasato. He was a microbiologist who was instrumental in today's Tetanus treatment. He replaces the portrait of Hideyo Noguchi on the E series 1,000 yen notes, who was also a microbiologist but had the bad habit of injecting unsuspecting subjects with syphilis. Either way, the medical theme remains the same between issues. The reverse of the note is remarkable in featuring the Great Wave Off Kanagawa by Katsushika Hokusai. Mt. Fuji can be seen in the distance, another throwback to the previous series where the volcano was on the reverse of the same denomination. A man sitting in the boat at the lower left is the only human in this banknote series other than the portraits. The serial number format has been updated from 9 digits to 10.
The man on the back of the 1,000
The F series 5,000 yen banknote is purple and blue, continuing the color selection from the C and E series notes. It is the rarest in the country other than the old 2,000 yen denomination and the amount in circulation is dramatically lower than the 1,000 and 10,000 yen notes. The obverse features the portrait of Tsuda Umeko. She was the first Japanese woman to study in the US and founded Tsuda University in Japan. The portrait is mirrored from the source image, causing some criticism in the country about bad luck. The reverse features a design of Nodafuji, a wisteria flower endemic to Japan. The species is featured in the mythological Kojiki chronicle and the Manyoshu poem. Paulownia flowers frame the obverse. Paulownia, called Kiji in Japanese, are a symbol of nobility. In North America they're considered invasive and targeted for eradication. Kiji have featured on Japanese currency since the Meiji period in the 19th century, appeared on 10 yen gold coins and even today are on the 500 yen coin. The hologram features a portrait of Umeko along with flowers such as peonies, bellflowers, cherry blossoms, and plum blossoms. The rounded pentagon watermark window is purposeful, with the thinking that it will make the note easier to distinguish from others at first glance. Japanese law is specific that only the characters for 1,2,3 and 10 can appear on currency but they threw that out the window by putting a 5 on it.
An example of Microprinting on the 5,000
The 10,000 yen note is the most common in Japan (89% of circulating notes!) and has the portrait of Eiichi Shibusawa on the front. He was a capitalist during the late 19th century widely credited with creating the westernized economy of Japan. So it's appropriate he's on the money. He founded the Tokyo Stock Exchange and is largely responsible for the existence of Sapporo Beer. The portrait on the note isn't without controversy. The source image taken when he was in his 70s but to present a more youthful appearance on the note he was "de-aged" a little bit, this annoyed some Japanese netizens concerned about respecting older people. The reverse features the Marunouchi Station building at main JR Tokyo Rail station. It's shown in two places, on the left and a view on the right from above as seen from the city's central post office. It's the first time a private company's building has been featured on a Bank of Japan note. This fact also annoyed Japanese Netizens and especially fans of other rail companies. Tokyo Station is generally representative of the city itself and is a key landmark there, regardless of ownership. The hologram strip features Shibusawa again, along with Mount Fuji and mountain cherry blossoms. The "1" on the denomination here has a serif, unlike the font used on the 1,000 yen note. Probably for ease of readability.
Shibusawa, de-aged