Explore Japanese Yen: A Look at Banknotes, Coins, and Their Unique Designs!

When you visit Japan, you’ll come across Japanese currency—the yen. Today, we’re introducing the banknotes and coins currently used in Japan. Let’s take a closer look at the different types of yen, including the unique designs you might not usually pay attention to. This is a great opportunity to connect with Japanese culture and history, making your journey of learning Japanese even more enjoyable.

Japanese banknotes are officially called “Bank of Japan Notes” (日本銀行券). They are issued by the Bank of Japan and printed by the National Printing Bureau, an independent administrative institution. The latest series of bills includes the new 1,000 yen, 5,000 yen, and 10,000 yen notes.

These new bills have been in circulation since July 3, 2024. They feature advanced anti-counterfeiting technology and a thoughtfully designed universal design, making them easier for everyone to use without hassle.

Let’s go over each of the new banknotes.

This banknote is entirely blue in color. On the front, it features a portrait of Shibasaburo Kitasato, a pioneering bacteriologist who made significant contributions to modern medicine. The back showcases “The Great Wave off Kanagawa”, the iconic print from Katsushika Hokusai’s famous ukiyo-e series Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji.

Source: National Printing Bureau official website
https://www.npb.go.jp/product_service/intro/kihon.html

The new 5,000 yen bill is themed in purple. On the front, it features a portrait of Umeko Tsuda, an educator who contributed greatly to women’s higher education during the Meiji period. The back is adorned with beautifully blooming wisteria flowers.

Source: National Printing Bureau official website
https://www.npb.go.jp/product_service/intro/kihon.html

This banknote features a brown color scheme. On the front is a portrait of Eiichi Shibusawa, known as the “Father of Japanese Capitalism,” a businessman who was involved in founding and nurturing numerous companies. The back depicts the Marunouchi building of Tokyo Station, one of Japan’s main gateways.

Source: National Printing Bureau official website
https://www.npb.go.jp/product_service/intro/kihon.html

The three individuals featured on the new banknotes are historical figures who contributed to essential fields in Japan’s modernization. Their selection reflects the values that are highly regarded in Japanese society.

For those who have just arrived in Japan, banknotes can be identified primarily by their color tones (1,000 yen: blue, 5,000 yen: purple, 10,000 yen: brown) and size—the higher the denomination, the wider the bill. Additionally, large printed Arabic numerals, the portrait, and, for the new banknotes, tactile identification marks can also help distinguish them.

Coins of the Japanese yen are made by the National Printing Bureau, an independent administrative institution. The denominations include 1 yen, 5 yen, 10 yen, 50 yen, 100 yen, and 500 yen. The year the coin was minted is printed on one side, which is usually referred to as the reverse side.

Let’s go through each of them.

The 1 yen coin is made of aluminum and weighs only 1 gram, making it the lightest of all Japanese coins. The obverse side features a young tree symbolizing Japan’s growth and development. The reverse side displays the Arabic numeral “1” along with the year the coin was minted.

Source: Ministry of Finance website:
(https://www.mof.go.jp/policy/currency/coin/general_coin/list.htm)
PDL1.0 (https://www.digital.go.jp/resources/open_data/public_data_license_v1.0)

The 5 yen coin is made of a material called brass. One of its most distinctive features is the hole in the center. It is also unique in that it displays only kanji characters, with no Arabic numerals. On the obverse side, you’ll find designs representing Japan’s key industries: agriculture (a rice stalk), fisheries (water), and manufacturing (a gear). The reverse side features a design of sprouting leaves (futaba), symbolizing the emergence of a new Japan.

Source: Ministry of Finance website:
(https://www.mof.go.jp/policy/currency/coin/general_coin/list.htm)
PDL1.0 (https://www.digital.go.jp/resources/open_data/public_data_license_v1.0)

This coin is made of bronze. On the obverse side, you’ll see the Phoenix Hall of Byōdō-in, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in Kyoto, surrounded by an arabesque pattern. The reverse side features the Arabic numeral “10” along with an image of the tokiwagi (a type of evergreen tree), which symbolizes longevity and constancy.

Source: Ministry of Finance website:
(https://www.mof.go.jp/policy/currency/coin/general_coin/list.htm)
PDL1.0 (https://www.digital.go.jp/resources/open_data/public_data_license_v1.0)

The coin is made of a material called cupronickel. Like the 5 yen coin, it has a hole in the center. This design change was made to distinguish it from the earlier version of the 100 yen coin, which was commonly referred to as a “silver coin” (銀貨). On the obverse side, you’ll find a chrysanthemum, a flower deeply loved by the Japanese and one of the national symbols. The reverse side features the Arabic numeral “50” along with the year of minting.

Source: Ministry of Finance website:
(https://www.mof.go.jp/policy/currency/coin/general_coin/list.htm)
PDL1.0 (https://www.digital.go.jp/resources/open_data/public_data_license_v1.0)

This coin is also made of cupronickel and features 103 serrations along its edge. On the obverse side, you’ll find three layered blossoms of yaezakura (double-flowered cherry blossoms), widely recognized as a national symbol of Japan. This sakura design has been in use since 1967. The reverse side shows the number “100” in Arabic numerals along with the year of minting. It’s a familiar and frequently used coin, commonly found in vending machines and convenience stores.

Source: Ministry of Finance website:
(https://www.mof.go.jp/policy/currency/coin/general_coin/list.htm)
PDL1.0 (https://www.digital.go.jp/resources/open_data/public_data_license_v1.0)

The new 500 yen coin has been in circulation since November 2021. Its most notable feature is its bi-color clad structure—a three-layered composition that combines two different metals with distinct colors. This advanced technology is used to prevent counterfeiting. On the obverse side, you’ll find the paulownia flower, considered a noble plant and often used in Japanese family crests. The reverse side features bamboo and tachibana (a type of citrus). As the highest-denomination coin in Japan, the new 500 yen coin incorporates several advanced anti-counterfeiting features.

Source: Ministry of Finance website:
(https://www.mof.go.jp/policy/currency/coin/general_coin/list.htm)
PDL1.0 (https://www.digital.go.jp/resources/open_data/public_data_license_v1.0)

When identifying Japanese coins, foreign learners can start by checking whether the coin has a hole in the center—only the 5 yen and 50 yen coins do. It’s also helpful to look at the color and size of the coin. The 5 yen coin is the only one that doesn’t have Arabic numerals, which can also be a useful clue.

The designs on Japanese banknotes and coins showcase the country’s history, culture, nature, and key industries. They’re more than just currency—by focusing on the artwork and figures featured on them, you might gain deeper insight into Japan itself.

For example, the designs on coins feature elements of Japan’s natural environment—such as young trees, rice stalks, buds, chrysanthemums, cherry blossoms, bamboo, and tachibana—as well as symbols of key industries like agriculture, represented by rice stalks; fisheries, symbolized by water; and manufacturing, depicted through gears. The banknotes illustrate historic architecture including Byōdō-in Phoenix Hall, Shureimon Gate of Shuri Castle, and Tokyo Station. They also showcase cultural heritage like the picture scroll of The Tale of Genji, and portray prominent figures who contributed to Japan’s modernization such as Shibasaburo Kitasato, Umeko Tsuda, and Eiichi Shibusawa, along with cultural icons Murasaki Shikibu and Katsushika Hokusai. These artworks and figures reflect the values the Japanese people have cherished over time, and offer insight into how the society has developed.

Japan’s currency plays a role not only in daily transactions but also in passing down its culture, history, technological strength, and functionality. The cutting-edge anti-counterfeiting features and thoughtful universal design found in the new banknotes and the updated 500 yen coin highlight the essence of modern Japan. If you have the chance to see them in person, I encourage you to take a moment and appreciate the details in their design. It might be your first step toward a deeper understanding of Japanese culture and society.

TCJ offers flexible Japanese lessons, available both in-person at convenient locations in Tokyo and Osaka, or online. Classes cater to all skill levels—from beginner to advanced—and are taught by experienced instructors. By choosing a learning style that fits your goals, whether business-oriented or focused on daily life, you can enhance your Japanese skills and open up more opportunities in Japan.

Reference:

Bank of Japan, “Special Features of the New Series of Bank of Japan Notes”
https://www.boj.or.jp/note_tfjgs/note/n_note/security.htm

Japan Mint, “Fun Facts About Coins”
https://www.mint.go.jp/kids-mamechishiki.html

National Printing Bureau, “Basic Information on Banknotes”
https://www.npb.go.jp/product_service/intro/kihon.html

Ministry of Finance Japan, “List of Regular Coins”
https://www.mof.go.jp/policy/currency/coin/general_coin/list.htm