Twelve students from St. Mary’s Finance Club, accompanied by Mr. Polley and Mr. Furudera, began their school trip at the Bank of Japan Currency Museum in Nihonbashi, where they explored the history of Japanese money from ancient coins to modern banknotes. Using audio guides, they moved through exhibits on early metallic currencies, printing plates, and the evolution of anti-counterfeiting technology such as holograms and watermarks.
Museum staff explained how Japan’s currency design has changed over time and how security features keep modern banknotes safe, giving students a clear sense of how money has developed across centuries.
After the museum, the group crossed to the Bank of Japan’s main building for a guided tour of the central bank itself. Following security screening, the students were led through the historic transaction hall, designated an Important Cultural Property, and then down toward the underground vault area. BOJ staff walked them through how currency is stored, how banknotes circulate, and how the bank manages monetary policy and financial stability.
The tour offered a rare, up-close look at how Japan’s central bank safeguards the value, flow, and stability of the nation’s money.
