Japan Mint facts for kids
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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 (独立行政法人造幣局 (Dokuritsu Gyōsei Hōjin Zōheikyoku)) is a special organization of the Japanese government. Its main job is to make and put into use the coins that Japan uses every day.
The main office of the Japan Mint is in Osaka. It also has other offices in Saitama and Hiroshima. It's important to know that the Japan Mint only makes coins. The job of printing paper money belongs to another agency called the National Printing Bureau.
Contents
History of the Japan Mint
When Japan started to modernize during the Meiji period, one of the first big steps was creating the Imperial Japanese Mint. This was a way to make Japan's money system better and more modern.
At first, Japan's paper money was printed in Germany. The Ministry of Finance carefully checked all the money made in Europe. In 1874, plans were approved to build a special factory in Japan for printing banknotes. This new building was finished in October 1876.
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Over many years, the Japan Mint started doing more than just making coins. It began producing special decorations and medals of honor. They also started making metallic art objects. The Mint also checks and tests different metal ores and minerals. They even certify the purity of valuable metal items, a process called hallmarking.
On April 1, 2003, the Japan Mint became an "Incorporated Administrative Agency." This means it operates a bit more like a private company, but it's still owned by the government.
Osaka Head Office: Where It All Began
The main office of the Japan Mint is in Kawasaki, Osaka.
- 1871: The Mint officially opened and started making coins on April 4. Making new coins was very important. It helped fix the confusion about money that was common during the earlier Tokugawa period.
Saitama Branch: A History of Change
The Saitama branch has moved locations several times over the years.
- 1879: This branch first opened inside the Ministry of Finance building. Its main job was to take gold and silver from people and turn it into coins for them. This sub-branch closed in 1907.
- 1929: A new branch was set up in Kōjimachi-ku, Tokyo. This office mainly focused on checking the purity of valuable metal items.
- 1939: The branch moved to Toshima-ku to have more space and grow its operations.
- 2016: The branch moved to its current location in Saitama.
Hiroshima Branch: Overcoming Challenges
The Hiroshima branch faced unique challenges during its early years.
- 1942: It was decided to build a coin-making factory in Hiroshima Prefecture. The goal was to make coins in Japan for different countries in Southeast Asia.
- 1945: Coin production in Hiroshima began in February. However, it stopped later that year because of the atomic bombing.
- 1946: The factory started working again at its current location.
- 1948: The branch became fully capable of handling the entire process of making coins from start to finish.
High Standards for Quality
The Japan Mint works hard to meet international standards for quality and environmental care. They follow guidelines from the ISO. This helps them make sure their operations are top-notch and friendly to the environment.
See also
- Independent Administrative Institution
- Ministry of Finance (Japan)
- Japanese yen
- Senpukan
- National Printing Bureau
