In November 2021 and July 2024, the Japanese Ministry of Finance completed the rollout of a newly designed series of banknotes and an updated 500-yen coin. While these changes were originally announced in 2019, they were implemented to significantly strengthen preventative measures against counterfeiting and modernize the currency.
The old bills and coins remain legal tender and can be used without any problems.
The Three New Banknotes (Issued July 2024)
Ten Thousand Yen
For the front figure will be the face of Eiichi Shibusawa (渋沢栄一), widely known as the “father of Japanese capitalism.” Shibusawa was involved in the establishment of about five hundred organizations in his lifetime, including the First National Bank, the Tokyo Stock Exchange, and the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The back of the bill is representative of the Meiji and Taisho eras featuring Tokyo Station (Marunouchi side), an important cultural property of Japan.
Five Thousand Yen
The 5,000-yen bill features Umeko Tsuda (津田梅子), a pioneer in the field of education for Japanese women and the founder of Tsuda University in Tokyo.
On the back, you see the elegant wisteria, a continuation with the flower theme – the older notes have irises.
Thousand Yen
The 1,000-yen bill features Shibasaburo Kitazato (北里柴三郎), a bacteriologist, who earned a reputation worldwide for his research related to the prevention and treatment of tetanus.
Katsushika Hokusai’s “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” graces the back and rightly so as it is probably the most popular woodblock print image.
The 2000 yen bill will not be redesigned as there are very few bills in circulation.
New 500 yen coin
While the coin has no obvious drastic change in terms of its overall look, the new coin utilizes a high-tech two-colored, three-layered structure (a combination of copper, nickel, and brass) to make it significantly harder to counterfeit. The new coin has subtly different sized grooves on the side compared to the older version’s uniformly sized grooves, further aiding in authentication.
Wondering if you can use the old bills now?
You will encounter both the old and new currency designs in circulation today. The new banknotes and 500-yen coin have been fully issued and are now standard, but rest assured, you can use any version of the bills or coins you receive during your travels without any problems.
