Editorial

16:01 JST, June 28, 2024

New banknotes will be issued on July 3 for the first time in 20 years. With the advent of a full-fledged cashless era, it is hoped that this will be an opportunity to reaffirm the value of cash.

The portrait on the ¥10,000 bill, which has large circulation, will change from Yukichi Fukuzawa to Eiichi Shibusawa, who is referred to as the “father of Japanese capitalism.” On the ¥5,000 bill, Ichiyo Higuchi will be replaced by Umeko Tsuda, a pioneer of women’s higher education in Japan. The ¥1,000 bill will feature bacteriologist Shibasaburo Kitasato, replacing Hideyo Noguchi.

These portraits are well-known to the public and the new bills will be used with familiarity.

Japan has introduced advanced anti-counterfeiting measures and has been renewing the banknotes around every 20 years. This time, for the........

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