Just last week, inspired by another post here, I ordered the full new series of Japanese banknotes and they arrived surprisingly fast (I did find a seller in Canada, which probably helped). These were first released in July in Japan. Though I still strongly prefer the Series E prominent Kanji numerals, I have to admit the new notes, with prominent Arabic numerals, look more attractive in hand than I anticipated. They follow the general color scheme and gradated sizing of Series E. They also feature interesting individuals who contributed to science, education, and industry. The 2024 version of the JNDA doesn't describe these notes as "Series F," but presumably they will receive that designation, coming directly after Series E (which first appeared in 2004). On all notes: 日本銀行 - Bank of Japan (roughly "nee-hohn gink-ohh" - some pronounce nee-hohn as "nip-pon") 日本銀行券 - Bank of Japan Banknote (roughly "nee-hohn gink-ohh ken") 千円 - One Thousand Yen (roughly "san-en") On the obverse, The 1000 Yen note features Shibasaburo Kitasato, the "father of Japanese Medicine." He helped develop treatments for tetanus. The reverse shows Hokusai's very famous "Under the Great Wave off Kanagawa" ukiyo-e print slightly truncated, which has become an iconic image even outside of Japan. 五千円 - Five Thousand Yen ("Gosen'en") Following Series E, the 5000 Yen note's obverse features a woman (women have almost never appeared on Japanese banknotes). Umeko Tsuda, who fought for women's rights and education in Japan, appears in portrait at right and in watermark and holograph. The reverse shows Japanese wisteria flowers, which appear in ancient Shinto texts. 壱万円 - Ten Thousand Yen ("Juusen'en") using more traditional Kanji Eiichi Shibusawa appears on the obverse of the 10,000 Yen note. He established many companies and earned the title "father of Japanese Capitalism." He founded the Tokyo Stock Exchange, along with many companies that still appear on it. He did not allow himself a controlling stake in any of them, though, avoiding forming a massive industrial collective known as a zaibatsu. He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1926. A historic part of Tokyo Station, the Marunouchi Station building, appears on the reverse. I'm not sure if this website was shared previously, but The Bank of Japan has a special website for the new notes in English that goes into much more detail. It also describes the sometimes mind-blowing security features used for these notes. Over the past 60 years or so, Japan has updated its banknote designs only every twenty years, so this could represent the last design change for quite some time. The one exception remains the special 2000 Yen note printed for the millennium in the year 2000, which circulated with Series D and Series E. This new series continues the extreme quality of its predecessor.
Already have the 1000 note; might try to get the 5000 and 10000 when feasible. Love the designs on these.
