TOKYO (AP) — Japan issued its first new banknotes in two decades Wednesday, yen packed with 3D hologram technology to fight counterfeiting.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida praised as historic the …
Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.
Already have an account? Log in to continue.
Current print subscribers can create a free account by clicking here
Otherwise, follow the link below to join.
To Our Valued Readers –
Visitors to our website will be limited to five stories per month unless they opt to subscribe. The five stories do not include our exclusive content written by our journalists.
For $6.99, less than 20 cents a day, digital subscribers will receive unlimited access to YourValley.net, including exclusive content from our newsroom and access to our Daily Independent e-edition.
Our commitment to balanced, fair reporting and local coverage provides insight and perspective not found anywhere else.
Your financial commitment will help to preserve the kind of honest journalism produced by our reporters and editors. We trust you agree that independent journalism is an essential component of our democracy. Please click here to subscribe.
Sincerely,
Charlene Bisson, Publisher, Independent Newsmedia
Need to set up your free e-Newspaper all-access account? click here.
Click here to see your options for becoming a subscriber.
Click here create a free account for posting comments. Note that free accounts do not include access to premium content on this site.
TOKYO (AP) — Japan issued its first new banknotes in two decades Wednesday, yen packed with 3D hologram technology to fight counterfeiting.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida praised as historic the state-of-the-art anti-counterfeit traits of the new 10,000 yen, 5,000 yen and 1,000 yen bills.
“I hope the people will like the new bills, and they will help energize the Japanese economy,” he told reporters at the Bank of Japan.
While the new bills were released with fanfare, currency already in use will remain valid. In fact, people will still need older bills to use most vending machines and to pay bus fares, local media reported.
Kishida noted the people featured on the bills celebrate Japanese capitalism, women’s equality and scientific innovation.
The 10,000 yen bill, worth about $62 at the current exchange rate, has the face of Eiichi Shibusawa, known as “the father of Japanese capitalism,” a key figure in building Japan’s modern economy. He is credited with founding hundreds of companies.
The 5,000 yen bill, worth about $30, features Umeko Tsuda, a pioneer feminist and educator who founded a college. The 1,000 yen note, worth about $6.20, portrays physician and bacteriologist Shibasaburo Kitasato, who was instrumental in the research of tetanus and the bubonic plague.
The backs of each of the bills feature Tokyo Station, wisteria flowers and ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai’s Mount Fuji, respectively.
The new bills also feature larger printing so they’re easier to read, especially for the nation’s aging population.
By the end of March next year, nearly 7.5 billion new banknotes will have been printed, according to the government. The amount of money in the new bills going out in a single day is estimated at 1.6 trillion yen ($10 billion).
It may take some time for ordinary people to get hold of the new bills. They first are going to banks and other financial organizations. Then, they’ll be distributed to automatic teller machines and stores, according to the Bank of Japan.
A majority of transactions in Japan still are done in cash and cashless payments have been slower to catch on than in many other countries.
“Although the world is moving toward cashless interactions, we believe cash remains important as a way for safely settling payments anywhere and anytime,” said Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda.
___
AP videographer Mayuko Ono contributed to this report.
Yuri Kageyama is on X: https://twitter.com/yurikageyama
Other items that may interest you
Most popular stories in Daily Independent
Read the latest print edition here.
View this issue
Browse other issues
A 51-year-old Avondale man has pleaded guilty to the sexual abuse of an inmate at a residential reentry center in Phoenix, authorities said. Morris Gary Hibbitt worked as a security supervisor …
Luka Doncic and Slovenia head to Olympic qualifying semifinals
Irvin allows 1 hit over 8 innings, Winker homers as the Nationals beat the Mets 1-0
Chandler Police confirm names of mother, daughter in apparent murder-suicide
Fouling up by 27 late. Trying to score for the other team. All part of Olympic basketball qualifiers
Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette scratched from lineup against Astros because of forearm bruise
YourValley.net
623-972-6101
17220 N Boswell Blvd
Suite 230E
Sun City AZ 85373
Email: azdelivery@iniusa.org