What is the official currency of Japan, divided into 100 sen?

The Japanese yen is the official currency of Japan, and it is historically divided into 100 sen.

Japan adopted the yen in 1871 under the New Currency Act, replacing a complex monetary system that included many regional and feudal coinages. The word yen means “round object,” reflecting the shape of the new coins.

The yen’s international currency code is JPY, and its symbol is ¥. Sen and rin coins are no longer used in everyday Japanese commerce, even though the historical subdivision remains part of the currency’s formal description.

The Bank of Japan issues banknotes, while the Japanese government issues coins. Modern banknotes feature figures such as educator Fukuzawa Yukichi, novelist Higuchi Ichiyō, and bacteriologist Shibasaburō Kitasato, depending on the note series in circulation.