Japan Introduces New Banknotes with Himalayan Contribution
Today, Japan unveiled a redesigned series of new banknotes, marking the first update in two decades with significant changes to portraits across various denominations.
According to the Bank of Japan, new banknotes of 10,000 yen, 5,000 yen, and 1,000 yen denominations were launched today, as reported by CNN.
“The new banknotes represent the culmination of over 150 years of anti-counterfeit technology,” stated the bank.
However, what makes these new yen notes unique is their source from an unexpected contributor to Asia’s economic powerhouse.
These banknotes are crafted from fibers of the yellow flowering paperbush shrubs, scientifically known as the mitsumata plant, which thrive in the Himalayan mountains of Nepal. This raw material undergoes months of labor and transport.
Tadashi Matsubara, president of Kanpou, the company producing paper for the Japanese government, emphasized Nepal’s crucial role in Japan’s economy, highlighting cash as fundamental.
“The contribution of Nepal to Japan’s economy is invaluable. Without Nepal, Japan’s economic functions would be severely impacted,” Matsubara remarked.
The Journey of Japanese Yen to Nepal
The sturdy fibers of the mitsumata plant, historically cultivated in Japan, are essential for creating durable paper.
However, due to rural depopulation, urban migration, and the lack of successors for farm management, Japanese production of mitsumata has dwindled.
In the 1990s, a charitable initiative led Kanpou to Nepal, aiming to assist local farmers with well-digging projects. During this effort, they discovered abundant growths of paperbush on Nepalese mountains.
Through educational programs, Nepali farmers were trained in cultivating mitsumata. Over time, Kanpou and Nepali farmers emerged as the primary suppliers of mitsumata fibers for Japanese yen bills, following the decline in domestic Japanese production.
The Production Process
The cultivation process begins with planting seedlings in early summer. Farmers harvest the branches during fall, followed by several months of bark processing involving steaming, peeling, washing, and drying.
By winter, the raw paper is ready and transported to Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital, then forwarded to Kolkata, India, and shipped to Yokohama, Japan.
Upon arrival, the paper undergoes rigorous inspection before being processed, printed, and cut into cash by the National Printing Bureau in Odawara city, near Yokohama.
This collaboration between Kanpou and Nepali farmers underscores a unique synergy benefiting both nations, enriching Japan’s currency with a sustainable resource from Nepal’s Himalayan slopes.
