History of Japanese Yen
"The first nationally-accepted paper money was issued by the Meiji Restoration government. It was oblong in form and issued by the local clan government in the Edo Period The Meiji government started to reform the complicated monetary system of Edo Period into a modern system resembling those in European countries. Having had no experience of printing paper money using western coloring methods, the Japanese government ordered a German company to print the money and completed them as money in Japan by adding the indication "Meiji Tsuho", a name used for paper money and official stamps. The unification of paper money was smoothly accomplished by issuing the Meiji Tsuho, which was available in nine kinds of face value in addition to the ten yen bill. However, a lot of counterfeit money was made since the designs of the bills were almost the same regardless of their value. In addition they were all exactly the same in size."

Current Japanese Yen Notes
"The Ministry of Finance decided and announced the manufacture of new series of the 10,000 yen, 5,000 yen, and 1,000 yen Bank of Japan notes, as stated below, in order to improve their security against counterfeiting.

The Bank of Japan considers the decision of the Ministry appropriate which takes into account the increase of counterfeited banknotes.

Security Features
In addition to watermark, intaglio printing, and microprinting, etc., the security features of new notes include pearl (iridescent) ink and latent image (combination of line art works and watermark) adopted in the 2,000 yen note. Other latest security features: hologram and watermark-bar-pattern."


Bank of Japan Notes Currently Issued:

[front] Portrait: Yukichi Fukuzawa	[back] Design: Statue of Phoenix in Byodoin Temple	10,000 yen (76 x 160mm) Date of first issue: Nov. 1, 2004
[front] Portrait: Ichiyo Higuchi	[back] Design: "Kakitsubata-zu" (painting of irises) Work of Korin Ogata	5,000 yen (76 x 156mm) Date of first issue: Nov. 1, 2004
[front] Design: Shurei-mon Gate	[back] Design: A scene from the Tale of Genji and portrait of its author, Murasaki Shikibu	2,000 yen (76 x 154mm) Date of first issue: Jul. 19, 2000
[front] Portrait: Hideyo Noguchi	[back] Design: Mt.Fuji and cherry blossoms	1,000 yen (76 x 150mm) Date of first issue: Nov. 1, 2004

Sources: Central Bank of Japan, www.imes.boj.or.jp/cm/english_htmls/history.htm