The history of Japanese banknotes started in 1877 (Meiji 10), when the Printing Bureau under the Ministry of Finance, the predecessor to the National Printing Bureau, manufactured Japan's first domestically produced paper money. We have continued to manufacture Japanese banknotes since then.

Yes, Japan remains a remarkably cash-centric society, and while digital payments have surged since 2020, paper money is still used for a vast majority of daily transactions. In July 2024, Japan issued a brand-new series of high-tech banknotes featuring 3D holograms of historical figures like Eiichi Shibusawa, ensuring that physical currency remains a core part of the economy through 2026. While you can use "IC Cards" (like Suica or Pasmo) and apps like PayPay in major cities and convenience stores, many smaller "ramen shops," traditional "ryokans," and rural shrines still operate on a "Cash Only" basis. For tourists, carrying a "coin purse" is an essential part of the Japan experience, as you will frequently receive 100 and 500-yen coins as change. While the "Cashless Vision" project aims to increase digital transactions to 40%, Japan’s cultural preference for the tangible security of physical yen, combined with an exceptionally low crime rate that makes carrying large amounts of cash safe, means that paper money won't be disappearing from the land of the rising sun anytime soon.