Guide to Detecting Counterfeit Japanese Yen (JPY) Banknotes

How to Identify Counterfeit JPY (¥) Currency Notes

Japan introduced a new series of yen banknotes in July 2024, including denominations of ¥1,000, ¥5,000, and ¥10,000. Known as Series F, these notes feature updated portraits, iconic Japanese artwork, and cutting-edge security features.

Key Security Features of Japanese Yen Bank Notes

Watermark Portrait:

Every note has a watermark that matches the printed portrait on the front. When you hold the note up to light, you’ll see a faint yet detailed image of the same person shown in the main portrait

Watermark Bar Patterns:

Apart from the portrait watermark, there are vertical watermark bars that become visible when held up to light. These appear as translucent vertical lines and differ by denomination.

Intaglio Printing:

Genuine Japanese banknotes use intaglio printing, which creates raised ink that can be felt by touch. This raised texture is present on important elements like the portrait, the denomination, etc.

Holograms with 3D Portraits:

Japanese yen notes have an advanced security feature in the form of 3D holographic portraits. These are dynamic images embedded into the banknote that move and shift when tilted, creating a three-dimensional illusion.

Latent Image:

On genuine yen notes, tilting the note slightly at an angle will reveal hidden text or numerals. For example, depending on the denomination, you'll see the word "NIPPON" and the numerical value such as "10000", "5000", or "1000" appear in certain areas of the note.

Pearl Ink:

Genuine notes include areas printed with pink or pearly ink, especially near the edges. These pearlescent patterns are only visible at certain angles and are very difficult to reproduce with standard printing equipment.

Microprinting:

Under magnification, real yen notes reveal extremely small printed text such as “NIPPON GINKO” (Bank of Japan) and intricate fine-line patterns. These features appear around the portrait and background areas and cannot usually be copied by counterfeiters.

Luminescent (Fluorescent) Ink:

When placed under ultraviolet (UV) light, certain areas of a genuine banknote will glow. The Governor’s seal on the front glows orange, and some background areas fluoresce yellow-green. Most counterfeit notes either glow incorrectly or do not glow at all.

A Detailed Guide to Identifying Counterfeit JPY Currency by Denomination

Feature	¥1,000	¥5,000	¥10,000
Portrait	Shibasaburo Kitasato	Tsuda Umeko	Eiichi Shibusawa
Watermark Portrait	Yes	Yes	Yes
Watermark Bars	1	2	3
Raised Printing	Yes	Yes	Yes
3D Hologram	Hologram patch	Holographic stripe	Holographic stripe
Latent Images	Denomination 1000, "NIPPON"	Denomination 5000, "NIPPON"	Denomination 10,000, "NIPPON"
Pearl Ink	Yes	Yes	Yes
Microprinting	Yes	Yes	Yes
UV Ink	Seal & patterns glow	Seal & patterns glow	Seal & patterns glow

1. ¥1000 Banknote

Watermark Portrait: When you hold the ¥1000 note up to the light, a faint yet detailed watermark of Shibasaburo Kitasato appears, identical to the printed portrait.
Watermark Bars: A single vertical bar becomes visible when held to light.
Raised (Intaglio) Printing: You can feel raised printing on Kitasato's portrait and on parts of the numerals.
3D Hologram: A small hologram patch near the front-right corner displays a rotating 3D portrait of Kitasato when the note is tilted, along with shimmering effects.
Latent Images: Tilting the note reveals hidden details like the denomination number “1000” and "NIPPON," which becomes visible from specific angles.
Pearl Ink: Areas along the margins shine with a pearlescent effect when viewed at an angle, giving the note a subtle shimmer.
Microprinting: Tiny, detailed text such as “NIPPON GINKO” (Bank of Japan) is printed in select areas.
UV Ink: Under ultraviolet light, the Bank of Japan seal glows orange, and other parts of the design glow yellow-green.

2. ¥5000 Banknote

Watermark Portrait: When held up to the light, the watermark shows a clear, shaded image of Tsuda Umeko, identical to the printed portrait.
Watermark Bars: Two vertical watermark bars appear on either side of the note when held to light.
Raised Printing: The portrait, large numerals, and certain text areas feel distinctly raised.
3D Hologram: A vertical holographic stripe on the right side of the front displays a moving 3D portrait of Tsuda Umeko and the denomination, which rotate and shimmer when tilted.
Latent Images: The word “NIPPON” and the number “5000” appear faintly in hidden layers when viewed from specific angles.
Pearl Ink: The front surface includes areas that reflect light in subtle, shimmering hues, offering a pearlescent finish not easily reproduced.
Microprinting: Extremely fine text appears throughout the note and is readable under magnification.
UV Ink: Under UV light, the Bank of Japan seal glows orange, and other parts of the design glow yellow-green.

3. ¥10,000 Banknote

Watermark Portrait: A watermarked image of Eiichi Shibusawa appears clearly when held to the light, identical to the printed portrait.
Watermark Bars: Three distinct vertical watermark bars are visible under the light.
Raised Printing: There’s a noticeable texture on Shibusawa’s portrait, large numerals, and labels, which can be felt by touch.
3D Hologram: The ¥10,000 note features a full vertical holographic stripe with a rotating 3D image of Shibusawa and sparkling denomination numbers.
Latent Images: Hidden elements, including the denomination “10,000” and text like “NIPPON,” are visible from specific viewing angles.
Pearl Ink: Decorative patterns along the front shine in iridescent colors under light, due to the special pearl ink.
Microprinting: Tiny text like “NIPPON GINKO” is precisely printed in multiple locations. It is readable using a magnifying glass.
UV Ink: Under ultraviolet light, the Bank of Japan seal glows orange, and other parts of the design glow yellow-green.

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