On Monday 3 February, the Hiroshima based coin-manufacturing department of Japan’s Finance Ministry resumed the production of aluminium ¥1 coins for the first time in four years. This is thought to be in preparation for the consumption tax increase which will occur on April 1, 2014. A shortage of ¥1 coins is expected amongst retailers…
It is known by many that Japan is a country which is very technically advanced. Cashless payments are commonly used in daily transactions and it would appear that Japan could be the ideal “Cashless Society”. Except it’s not. Total currency in circulation at the end of 2013 rose to Y90 trillion (US$860 billion) in Japan,…
A local news agency (Jiji Press) has reported that Japan’s Ministry of Finance has launched a promotion campaign to attract orders to print foreign banknotes. The National Printing Bureau (NPB), Tokyo, is highlighting Japan’s “cutting-edge anti-counterfeit technologies” in the hope of attracting orders. They will also offer passport printing services in addition to the current…