Pop Japan

Before the Meiji Era, Japan had a lot of currencies, called hansatsu, because each feudal lord had his own currency. During the Meiji Restoration, the yen was established as Japan's official decimal currency, under the New Currency Act of Meiji. But the demolition of such "feudal currencies" had not been easy. In 1882, the Bank of Japan Act was established, giving the institution the power to monopolize the money supply of the whole of Japan. But it took the nation another 20 years to completely get the "other" bills out of the system.

The Western-style building, reminiscent of the Meiji Era design, is located in the Chuo ward of Tokyo.

Tags: meiji era, hansatsu, feudal lord, meiji restoration, yen, japan's official decimal currency, new currency act of meiji, feudal currency, bank of japan