History of Japanese banknotes

Everyone probably knows that new banknotes will be issued starting tomorrow. So this time, I would like you to explain the history of portraits on banknotes.

Portraits are drawn on banknotes to prevent camouflage, but other than that, there is an image of Japan that the government at the time and the current government want to aim for in the portrait on the banknote.

[Meiji to pre-war]

Historical figures who supported the emperor system

・Prince Shotoku

・Fujiwara Kamatari

・Sugawara Michizane etc.

Characters in the Kojiki

・Empress Jingu

・Nihon Takeru

You can clearly see that Japan had an emperor system from the Meiji period to before the war. You can read the policy of the government at the time that wanted to control Japan at the center of the emperor. Therefore, historical figures and figures from the Kojiki who contributed to the emperor are portraits on banknotes.

[After the war]

Politicians who promoted democratization

・Hirobumi Itō

・Taisuke Itagaki

・Takahashi Korekiyo

・Prince Shotoku, etc.

The portraits on banknotes after the war strongly reflected GHQ's intentions, and people who contributed to the emperor system and people in the Kojiki were almost eliminated.

Instead, a politician who led Japan to democratization was adopted as a portrait. As an ancient politician who preached peace, Shotoku Taishi continued to be hired as an exception.

Cultural people who made Japan

・Fukuzawa Yukichi

・Nitobe Inazo Higuchi Ichiyo

・Natsume Soseki Noguchi Hideyo

When a politician uses it as a portrait on a banknote, there is a risk that the policies carried out by that person will be criticized depending on the circumstances. In order to reduce this risk, portraits on banknotes have shifted from politicians to cultural figures with cultural achievements.

People who will be hired from next fiscal year

・Shibusawa Eiichi

・Tsuda plum

・Kitasato Shibasaburo

These three people are people who will be portraits of the new banknotes starting next fiscal year, and we should be able to read what they want Japan to look like from here.

Shibusawa Eiichi on the new 10,000 yen bill. He is an economist who is said to be the father of the Japanese economy. I can read the wish for Japan to regain its economic momentum from here.

Tsuda Umeko, the new 5,000 yen bill, is a person with important achievements in girls' education and founded Tsuda Juku. From here on in Japan, we can read wishes for women to play more active roles.

Kitasato Shibasaburo on the new 1,000 yen bill was active in the field of bacteriology and laid the foundation for preventive medicine. From here on, you can read the wish that Japan will continue to play an active role in preventive medicine or preventive nursing care in good health.

It would be great if women played an active role, everyone could play an active role forever, and restore Japan, which has economic momentum. I hope so too.