For those who withdraw money at the ATM and look at yen note, you may be wondering who the individual and the art depiction on the back may be.
On the front side of the 10,000 yen note features an image of Fukuzawa Yukichi, a Meiji era philosopher, interpreter/translator and founder of the Keio University. But most importantly, he is regarded as one of the founders of modern Japan. He was also the inventor of the Japanese characters “VU” and “VA”.
He was also one of the earlier students of Western learning and the English language. At the age of 25, he was part of the historic shogunate delegation to the United States and
But because of his travels to Europe and the United States, he saw the value of Mathematics and Science. Also, because he wrote books that was in favor of understanding the West and moving forward. This would be a factor in Japan becoming pro-modernization, but it was not exactly met with approval as bands of samurai opposed Japan opening up to Americans and Europeans. In fact, his life was in danger because he advocated for modernization and one of his colleagues were killed by samurai.
He was also an advocate for women’s rights and favored equality between husbands and wives and education for boys and girls. Also, promoting equal love for sons and daughters. Granted, to a point, where his advocacy was primarily for married couples. But still, for that time, what he did was quite bold back in the late 1800s.
On the reverse of the 10,000 yen note is a Hoo Phoenix in the Hall of the Phoenix in Byodo-in. According to Chinese/East Asian mythology, the Hoo (or Fenghuang) are birds that are reign over all other birds.
Originally, back in 1958, the series C 10,000 yen note featured Prince Shotoku but it was changed in 1984 to the Series D note featuring Fukuzawa. Since then there have been a few minor changes such as a black serial number added in 2004 and then a brown serial number in 2011.
In fact, during the redesign of the banknotes, many figures were changed, with the exception of Fukuzawa on the 10,000 yen note.
And as you can see, there are a lot of anti-counterfeiting measures present in the current banknote. From Intaglio printing, holograms, microprinting, fluourescent ink, latent images, watermarks and angle-sensitive ink.
