About once every 20 years, Japan redesigns its bank notes as an anti-counterfeit measure. The current ¥1,000, ¥5,000 and ¥10,000 notes were issued in 2004, so it’s time for a refresh. Starting July 3, the Bank of Japan will release a new series of bills to financial institutions across Japan. But don’t panic if you’ve recently withdrawn a significant amount of yen – the old bills will continue to be valid even after the new ones are introduced.
The new design will feature the faces of Shibasaburo Kitasato, Umeko Tsuda and Eiichi Shibusawa on the ¥1,000, ¥5,000 and ¥10,000 bills, respectively. These new bank notes will also be the first in the world to incorporate holographic technology, creating a three-dimensional effect to further deter counterfeiting.
Additionally, the numerals on the new notes will be larger to assist visually impaired individuals and those unfamiliar with Japanese currency in distinguishing between denominations. Here’s a closer look at the new designs and the notable figures they feature.
¥1,000 note: Shibasaburo Kitasato
After receiving his medical degree from the University of Tokyo in 1883, Shibasaburo Kitasato briefly worked as an associate professor at the university before going to Berlin to study with German bacteriologist Robert Koch, who he greatly admired.
In 1889, Kitasato became the first person in the world to grow a pure culture of tetanus and went on to work with German physiologist Emil von Behring to produce a serum therapy for the disease, along with antitoxins for diphtheria and anthrax. Both Kitasato and von Behring were nominated for the first Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1901, but sadly, the prize went only to von Behring.
¥5,000 note: Umeko Tsuda
Umeko Tsuda was only six years old when her father sent her on a diplomatic expedition from Yokohama to San Francisco in 1871. She lived with a host family in Washington, DC, and studied there until moving back to Japan at the age of 18. Her return was marked by some serious culture shock – Tsuda found she had forgotten most of her mother tongue.
Working as a tutor, Tsuda was dismayed by the Japanese curriculum with its emphasis on educating girls to be 'good wives and wise mothers'. Tsuda dedicated the rest of her life to improving opportunities for women in Japan, eventually founding Tsuda University, which is today considered one of the best educational institutions in the country.
¥10,000 note: Eiichi Shibusawa
The new face of the ¥10,000 banknote is also known as the ‘father of Japanese capitalism’. Eiichi Shibusawa was born in 1840 to a family of wealthy indigo farmers. His father taught him how to read and write, and he studied Japanese history and the Confucian classics with his cousin, who was a scholar.
A pioneer of modern banking, Shibusawa introduced the concepts of double-entry bookkeeping and joint-stock corporations to Japan. He also established the First National Bank in 1873 and pushed for long-term business growth over short-term profits. In his lifetime, Shibusawa was involved in founding more than 500 companies, including Sapporo Brewery and Tokyo's Imperial Hotel.
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