Series 甲 The first ¥1,000 note was released on 17 August 1945. At the time successive series of bank notes were labelled as series
甲, 乙, 丙, 丁 or as series
い, ろ as opposed to series A, B, C, D, E. It measured 172 × 100 mm and featured images of the legendary prince
Yamato Takeru and the
Shinto shrine
Takebe taisha. It was removed from circulation in 1954.
Series A A series A bank note was planned in 1946 but never released, along with other planned bank notes.
Series B The series B note measured 164 x 76 mm and entered circulation on 1 July 1950. The obverse displayed an image of the semi-legendary
regent and politician under
Empress Suiko,
Prince Shōtoku. The reverse side contained an image of the "Yumedono" (literally
Hall of Dreams) in the grounds of
Hōryū-ji, a
Buddhist temple located in
Nara Prefecture. Only one version of the bank note existed, and it was removed from circulation on 4 January 1965.
Series C Like its predecessor, the series C note measured 164 x 76 mm. It entered circulation on 1 November 1963. The obverse side contained a portrait of
Itō Hirobumi, who, under
Emperor Meiji, was the first
Prime Minister of Japan, assuming office in 1885. The reverse side displayed an image of the
Bank of Japan. The series C note was released with the bank number in two different colours: black (from 1963) and blue (from 1976). It was removed from circulation on 4 January 1986. It was first issued on 1 November 2004. Extensive anti-counterfeiting measures are present in the newest banknotes. They include intaglio printing, holograms, microprinting, fluorescent ink, latent images, watermarks, and angle-sensitive ink. The series E notes will continue to remain in circulation alongside the newly-issued series F notes from 2024.
Series F The sixth series (series F) notes are currently in circulation, and are the smallest of the three common bank notes, measuring 150 x 76 mm. The ¥1,000 bill features
Kitasato Shibasaburō and
The Great Wave off Kanagawa. This is also the first series of bank note that features English. It was first issued on 3 July 2024. ==Gallery==