The yen is the currency used in Japan.
Japan adopted the yen in 1871 under the New Currency Act, part of the reforms of the Meiji period. The word “yen” is derived from a Japanese term meaning “round,” reflecting the shape of the new coins. Its international currency code is JPY, and its symbol is commonly written as ¥.
The yen is divided into 100 sen in historical accounting, although sen coins are no longer used in everyday transactions. Modern Japanese coins include denominations from 1 to 500 yen, while banknotes are issued in several larger denominations.
Yukichi Fukuzawa appeared on the 10,000-yen note for many years, but Japan introduced a redesigned banknote series in July 2024. The new notes feature Shibusawa Eiichi, Tsuda Umeko, and Kitasato Shibasaburō, with updated anti-counterfeiting technology.