What currency is used by Japan, with the symbol ¥ and ISO code JPY?

Japan uses the Japanese yen, identified internationally by the ISO code JPY and commonly marked with the symbol ¥.

The yen became Japan’s modern monetary unit in 1871, when the Meiji government introduced a decimal currency system. The name comes from a Japanese word meaning “round,” referring to the shape of coins.

The yen is divided into 100 sen in accounting terms, although sen coins are no longer used in everyday transactions. A common mix-up is calling China’s yuan “yen”; they share a related historical character but are separate currencies. Japan’s central bank, the Bank of Japan, issues yen banknotes.