Japan Mint facts for kids
Japan Mint Osaka's front gate
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| Independent Administrative Institution | |
| Industry | Coins |
| Founded | 1871 |
| Headquarters | , |
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Area served
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Japan |
| Owner | Government of Japan |
The Japan Mint is a special organization in Japan. It's like a government agency that makes all the coins used in the country. Its main office is in Osaka, and it has other offices in Saitama and Hiroshima. The Japan Mint only makes coins. Paper money, like banknotes, is made by a different group called the National Printing Bureau.
Contents
The History of Japan's Coin Maker
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When the Meiji government started in Japan, one of its first big steps was to create the Imperial Japanese Mint. This was important for making Japan's money system more modern. At first, some paper money was even printed in Germany.
Over many years, the Japan Mint started doing more than just making coins. It also began producing special decorations and medals. These are given to people for their achievements. The Mint also makes metallic art objects. They even test metals to make sure they are pure, especially precious metals like gold and silver.
In 2003, the Mint became an Independent Administrative Agency. This means it's a special kind of government organization that runs itself.
Osaka Head Office: Where It All Began
The main office of the Japan Mint is in Osaka.
- 1871: The Mint officially started making coins in Kawasaki, Osaka. This was very important because there was a lot of confusion about money during the earlier Tokugawa period. The new Mint helped fix this problem.
Saitama Branch: A Key Location
The Saitama branch has moved a few times over the years.
- 1879: This branch first opened in Tokyo. Its main job was to take gold and silver from people and turn it into coins for them. This office closed in 1907.
- 1929: A new branch was set up in Tokyo. This office focused on checking the purity of precious metal items.
- 1939: The branch moved to a larger location in Tokyo to handle more work.
- 2016: The branch moved to its current home in Saitama.
Hiroshima Branch: Making Coins for Asia
The Hiroshima branch has an interesting history.
- 1942: A new coin-making factory was planned for Hiroshima Prefecture. The idea was to make coins there for different countries in Southeast Asia.
- 1945: Coin production started in Hiroshima in February. However, it stopped later that year because of the atomic bombing.
- 1946: The Mint's operations started again at its current location in Hiroshima.
- 1948: The Hiroshima branch became able to handle the entire process of making coins from start to finish.
Quality and Environmental Standards
The Japan Mint works hard to meet international standards for how it manages its quality and its impact on the environment. These are called ISO standards. They help make sure the Mint does a good job and is responsible.
See Also
- Independent Administrative Institution
- Ministry of Finance (Japan)
- Japanese yen
- National Printing Bureau
