Japan issues world’s first anti-counterfeit 3D banknotes

Japan has issued new banknotes for the first time in 20 years in three denominations of 10,000 yen (equivalent to 62 USD), 5,000 yen, and 1,000 yen, incorporating advanced hologram technology, according to Interesting Engineering. On July 3, Japan began circulating new banknotes that feature 3D holograms of historical figures. Shipped from the Bank of Japan headquarters under tight security measures, the notes were quickly distributed to financial institutions and can be made available to consumers through banks and automated teller machines (ATMs). Kazuo Ueda, governor of the Bank of Japan, emphasized the role of paper money amid the growing popularity of electronic payments.

The central bank plans to distribute 1.6 trillion yen worth of redesigned notes on the day of issuance. Fukaya, a city in Saitama Prefecture near Tokyo, will mark the issuance with a countdown event. The new notes feature figures who have shaped Japanese culture and science. Educator Umeko Tsuda (1864-1929), a pioneer in women’s rights, appears on the 5,000 yen note. Microbiologist Shibasaburo Kitasato (1864-1929), the father of modern medicine in Japan, is honored on the 1,000 yen note. For the 10,000 yen note, authorities are using the image of Eiichi Shibusawa (1840-1931), the father of Japanese capitalism.

The new notes incorporate a number of security measures to prevent counterfeiting. They use advanced hologram technology, such as a 3D stripe on the 10,000 yen and 5,000 yen notes that changes the image in different directions depending on the angle at which they are viewed. The 1,000 yen note also has a hologram in the bottom left corner, making it harder to counterfeit. Other improvements include larger, easier-to-read numbers and special markings to help blind people distinguish between different denominations.

Japan led the world by becoming the first country to use holograms to create moving portraits. These innovations are playing a key role in Japan’s fight against counterfeiting. By the end of March 2025, about 7.5 billion new notes are expected to be in circulation.