History of Japanese Paper Currency（Showa era）
update：2024/3/28
Showa 2（1927）
History of Japanese paper currency
The Otsu 200-yen note with the reverse side left blank was urgently printed and issued to avert a state of emergency due to the financial crisis.
Major events
- The financial crisis breaks out
Showa 17（1942）
History of Japanese paper currency
The new series of banknotes, the I-Series and the Ro-Series, in which the letters indicating the notes to be convertible were deleted, were issued sequentially from 1942 to 1945.
Major events
- The Pacific War breaks out
（Showa 16） - A managed currency system is introduced to enable currency to be issued regardless of the gold or silver stockpile.
Postal rate
Envelopes (20g): 5 sen
Postcards: 2 sen
Showa 21（1946）
History of Japanese paper currency
Under the Bank of Japan Notes Deposit Ordinance, banknotes with certificate paper affixed were used as a substitute for new banknotes.
Six denominations of the series-A notes were issued sequentially from 1946 to 1948.
Major events
- The Pacific War ends
- The promulgation of the Decree on Emergency Financial Measures leads to the issuance of new banknotes (Series-A notes).
Postal rate
Envelopes (20g): 30 sen
Postcards: 15 sen
Showa 23（1948）
History of Japanese paper currency
Japan’s smallest-sized note was issued.
(Series-A 5-sen note: 48 mm x 94 mm)
Major events
Postal rate
Envelopes (20g): 5 yen
Postcards: 2 yen
Showa 25（1950）
History of Japanese paper currency
Four denominations of the Series-B notes were issued in sequentially from 1950 to 1953.
Major events
- San Francisco Peace Treaty
（Showa 26）
Postal rate
Envelopes (20g): 8 yen
Postcards: 2 yen
Showa 32（1957）
History of Japanese paper currency
The Series-C 5,000-yen note was issued.
Major events
- Japan joins the United Nations
（Showa 31,33）
Postal rate
Envelopes (20g): 10 yen
Postcards: 5 yen
Showa 33（1958）
History of Japanese paper currency
The Series-C 10,000-yen note was issued.
Major events
- Opening of the Kanmon Tunnel
（Showa 33）
Showa 38（1963）
History of Japanese paper currency
The Series-C 1,000-yen note was issued.
Major events
- Hosting of the Tokyo Olympic Games
（Showa 39）
Showa 44（1969）
History of Japanese paper currency
The Series-C 500-yen note was issued.
Major events
- Opening of the Tomei Expressway
Showa 51（1976）
History of Japanese paper currency
The alphanumeric serial number color of the Series-C 1,000-yen notes was changed from black to blue since all the serial numbers had been used up.
Major events
Postal rate
Envelopes (25g): 50 yen
Postcards: 20 yen
Showa 59（1984）
History of Japanese paper currency
Series-D notes with the simultaneous design changes of three denominations were issued.
Major events
- Hosting of the International Exposition, Tsukuba, Japan
（Showa 60）
Postal rate
Envelopes (25g): 60 yen
Postcards: 40 yen
Postage fees change: “Postal Statistics” (edited and published by Management Planning Division of Postal Bureau, Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications)