Prime Minister
“I hope the people will like the new bills, and they will help energize the Japanese economy,” he told reporters at the
While the new bills were released with fanfare, currency already in use will remain valid. In fact, people will still need older bills to use most vending machines and to pay bus fares, local media reported.
Kishida noted the people featured on the bills celebrate Japanese capitalism, women’s equality and scientific innovation.
The
The
The backs of each of the bills feature
The new bills also feature larger printing so they’re easier to read, especially for the nation’s aging population.
By the end of March next year, nearly 7.5 billion new banknotes will have been printed, according to the government. The amount of money in the new bills going out in a single day is estimated at
It may take some time for ordinary people to get hold of the new bills. They first are going to banks and other financial organizations. Then, they'll be distributed to automatic teller machines and stores, according to the
A majority of transactions in
“Although the world is moving toward cashless interactions, we believe cash remains important as a way for safely settling payments anywhere and anytime,” said
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