Japan Begins New Journey with Hologram Banknotes

On 3 July 2024, the Bank of Japan (BoJ) issued a new series of banknotes carrying holographic portraits. In the first design change in 20 years, the 10,000, 5,000, and 1,000 yen bills contain what appears to be a different stereographic portrait.

Each denomination has a similar design format, with enlarged numbers of the face value, improved tactile marks, a central portrait on the front, and an emblematic Japanese design on the reverse. (Ed: the series was first covered in the May 2023 issue of Holography News®, which is when the BoJ first unveiled the new designs).

The 10,000 yen displays Eiichi Shibusawa, known as the father of Japan’s capitalism. The main colour of the note is brown and the design on the reverse is of the Tokyo Station Marunouchi Building. The holographic portrait, which mirrors the printed portrait, is contained within a stripe.