July 3, 2024 in JapanFirst new banknotes in 20 yearshas been issued.
The three new notes are the 10,000 yen, 5,000 yen, and 1,000 yen notes, each featuring a portrait of a historical figure who supported Japan’s modernization.
- New 10,000 yen note:Eiichi Shibusawa
- New 5,000 yen note:Umeko Tsuda
- New 1,000 yen note:Shibasaburo Kitasato
Banknotes are not just “money” but also reflect a country’s values, history, and messages for the future. So why were these three chosen? In this column,From the achievements of the people featured on the new banknotes to the latest anti-counterfeiting technologyWe will explain everything carefully and clearly, starting from the basics.
- Who is Shibusawa Eiichi, featured on the new 10,000 yen bill?
- Who is Tsuda Umeko, featured on the new 5,000 yen bill?
- Who is Kitasato Shibasaburo, featured on the new 1,000 yen bill?
- Two anti-counterfeiting technologies introduced in the new banknotes issued in 2024
- Summary: The new banknotes are a mirror reflecting Japan’s future
Who is Shibusawa Eiichi, featured on the new 10,000 yen bill?
The portrait chosen for the new 10,000 yen note is Eiichi Shibusawa.
Eiichi Shibusawa was born on February 13, 1831 (March 16, 1840) in the village of Chiarashima, Hazawa County, Musashi Province (present-day Fukaya City, Saitama Prefecture). His family was a farming family and were by no means wealthy.However, he grew from a farmer to a samurai, and then from the Meiji era onwards to become a businessman who played a central role in the Japanese economy. For his achievements, he is known as the “father of Japanese capitalism.”
❶ What did Eiichi Shibusawa do?
Eiichi Shibusawa’s achievements are extremely diverse, but there are three particularly important points:
① The first full-scale introduction of the joint-stock company system in Japan
② Involved in the establishment of Japan’s first bank (First National Bank)
③ Founded over 500 companies and involved in approximately 600 social projects
He cherished the idea of ”The Analects of Confucius and the Abacus,”Balancing morality and economicsThis idea is said to be the origin of modern business ethics and CSR.
❷ Why Eiichi Shibusawa was featured on the new 10,000 yen bill
According to the Ministry of Finance, the reason Eiichi Shibusawa was chosen was:”He achieved outstanding results and led the modernization of Japan through the development of new industries.”This attitude of focusing not only on economic growth but also on the development of society as a whole is highly regarded as a value that is still relevant in modern Japan.
Who is Tsuda Umeko, featured on the new 5,000 yen bill?
The new 5,000 yen note features Tsuda Umeko. Tsuda Umeko was born on December 3, 1864, in Ushigome Minami-Okachimachi, Edo (present-day Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo). Her father was a shogunate official and an agricultural scientist.She was one of the first female students from Japan to study abroad, and went to America at the age of six, where she spent many years studying Western education. After returning to Japan, she dedicated her life to the advancement of women’s education in Japan.
❶ What did Tsuda Umeko do?
Tsuda Umeko’s three main achievements are as follows:
① Laid the foundation for women’s education in the Meiji period
② Promoting English education and education that respects individuality
③ Founding of the school that would become Tsuda University
At the time in Japan, it was common for women to stay at home, but she continued to emphasize the importance of women having the ability to think for themselves, learn, and thrive in society.
❷ Why Tsuda Umeko was featured on the new 5,000 yen note
The reason why Tsuda Umeko was chosen isPioneering achievements in women’s educationHer goal was not to educate women from a male perspective,Women-led educationThis philosophy is also connected to modern-day gender equality and educational diversity.
Who is Kitasato Shibasaburo, featured on the new 1,000 yen bill?
The person chosen to appear on the new 1,000 yen note is Shibasaburo Kitasato. Shibasaburo Kitasato was born on December 20, 1853 (January 29, 1853) in Kitasato Village, Oguni District, Aso County, Higo Province (present-day Oguni Town, Kumamoto Prefecture). His family was a village headman.He was a microbiologist and educator who built modern medicine in Japan. He is commonly known as the “Father of Modern Japanese Medicine.”
❶ What did Kitasato Shibasaburo do?
Shibasaburo Kitasato’s three most notable achievements are as follows:
① The world’s first successful pure culture of tetanus bacteria
② Established serum therapy, revolutionizing the treatment of infectious diseases
③ Establishment of the private Kitasato Institute (the parent organization of Kitasato University)
His research significantly reduced the mortality rate from infectious diseases and laid the foundation for a medical system that saves lives.
❷ Why Shibasaburo Kitasato was chosen to appear on the new 1,000 yen note
The reason why Shibasaburo Kitasato was chosen isAchievement in raising Japan’s medical standards to a world-class levelis located.
By the way, he was known for his discovery of the plague bacillus.Finalist for the first Nobel Prize in Physiology or MedicineHe is also one of the people who remained until today.
Two anti-counterfeiting technologies introduced in the new banknotes issued in 2024
The new banknotes incorporate the world’s most advanced anti-counterfeiting technology, including holograms, watermarks, and tiny gimmicks that can only be seen with a magnifying glass or microscope, making them even more visible to the visually impaired.
❶ 3D hologram
When you change the angle of the bill, the portrait appears to rotate in three dimensions.3D hologramis adopted.
This is the first technology in the world to be introduced to banknotes, and cannot be reproduced by copying or printing.
It is used on all new 10,000 yen, 5,000 yen, and 1,000 yen notes.
❷ High-definition perforation
This is a further evolution of the traditional Japanese technique of “sukashi.”
When held up to the light, the portrait and intricate patterns stand out clearly, making it extremely difficult to counterfeit.
▲When tilted, the word “NIPPON” appears.
▲The 11,000 yen note has 11 three-dimensional diagonal lines so that even the visually impaired can distinguish them. The 10,000 yen note has diagonal lines in the center left and right, the 5,000 yen note has diagonal lines in the center top and bottom, and the 1,000 yen note has diagonal lines in the bottom left and top right.
▲Official website (About anti-counterfeiting technology)
Summary: The new banknotes are a mirror reflecting Japan’s future
This time, we will explain the new banknotes issued for the first time in 20 years from both the perspective of the people and the technology involved. Banknotes are updated approximately every 20 years, and each time,The values that the era wants to cherishis reflected.The three people selected this time are people who built the foundations of modern Japan in the fields of economy, education, and medicine. When you pick up the new banknotes, please take the time to think about the stories behind them. You’ll surely find that your usual money will look a little different.
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