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Japan 500 yen 47 prefectures bimetallic coin series
Since 2008, the Ministry of Finance of Japan has begun
issuing a series of commemorative coins dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the
establishment of local autonomies - prefectures. The post-war Japanese
constitution of 1947, in a special chapter "On local authorities", provides for
the expansion of the powers of local governments and the introduction of direct
elections of local authorities by popular vote. Other name series - "The 47
Prefectures of Japan". The first in this series was a coin of the Hokkaido
Governorate in December 2008. The year of issue of the last coin is 2016. The
total number of bimetallic coins in the series is 47.
It is worth noting that in addition to bimetallic coins, the series also
produced silver coins with a face value of 1000 yen (weight: 31.1 g, diameter:
40 mm), their total number is also 47.
General characteristics of 500 yen coins
OBVERSE
A symbolic image of one of the sights of the prefecture and
hieroglyphic inscriptions: at the top - the Japanese state, at
the bottom - 500 yen. In the center of the coin, on the right or
left, the name of the prefecture is written in hieroglyphs and
in Latin transcription.
REVERSE
The symbolic image of an ancient coin of Japan, framed by four
hieroglyphs: "local autonomy". The center of the coin is made
with the effect of a hidden image: when the coin is tilted down,
the number 60 (anniversary period) appears, when tilted upwards,
the number 47 (the number of prefectures) appears. On the edge
of the coin is the motto of the collection "JAPAN 47 PREFECTURES
COIN PROGRAM 500 YEN" and the year of issue corresponding to
each coin.
RATE
500 yen
MATERIAL
cupro-nickel alloy / nickel brass
COMPOUND
copper 75%, zinc 12.5%, nickel 12.5%
WEIGHT (g)
7.10
DIAMETER (MM)
26.50
THICKNESS (MM)
1.95
EDGE
fluted
500 yen 47 Prefectures of Japan coins
Hokkaido
Date of release of the coin into
circulation: December 10, 2008, the number of issued coins: 2100
thousand pieces.
The obverse of the coin depicts Lake Toya, located on the island
of Hokkaido, symbolizing the G8 summit that took place here in
July 2008. In the foreground is a historical landmark of the
city of Sapporo - a brick building of the former governorate of
Hokkaido. This building, built in 1888, is a cultural heritage
of Japan. It symbolizes the beginning of the development of the
Northern territories, and is adorned with a red five-pointed
star. This symbol has nothing to do with Soviet symbols, but
denotes the guiding North Star. In 2008, the year of issue of
this commemorative coin, the celebration of its 120th
anniversary took place. Currently, the building houses a museum
of the history of the development of the island of Hokkaido.
Kyoto
Date of release of the coin into
circulation: December 10, 2008, the number of issued coins: 2050
thousand pieces.
The obverse of the coin depicts the plot of one of the chapters
of the masterpiece of Japanese medieval literature “The Tale of
Prince Genji”. This famous novel was written
The circulation is given according to the Ministry of Finance of
Japan. In the Heian era (794-1185), authorship is attributed to
court lady Murasaki Shikibu. Based on his motives, pictorial
scrolls were created in the same era, illustrating the scenes of
the novel. Part of the scrolls has survived to this day, they
were included on the cultural heritage list of Japan. The scene
depicted on the coin tells how the young prince Ninou admires
the beauty of his young wife Roku-nomiya in the rays of the
rising sun in the Ivy chapter. Traditional culture of the Heian
era of the heyday fine arts, literature and poetry is associated
with ancient Kyoto, where in that era the residence of the
Emperor of Japan was located.
Shimane
Date of release of the coin into
circulation: December 10, 2008, number of issued coins: 1970
thousand pieces.
The obverse of the coin depicts an artifact from the
archaeological site of Kamo Iwakura, located in Shimane
Province.
The site is known for having the largest number of dotaku,
bronze bells from the Yayoi period (approximately 500 BC to 300
AD), found on its site. In the center of the coin there is a
bell, which received serial number 35. The background is the
drawings of animals found on the surface of the bell, which was
found twenty-third. It is these two artifacts that differ in the
form and motifs of the ornament from the rest of the dotaku
found in other areas of Japan. Presumably, they were made in the
ancient province of Izumo, which was located on the western
coast of the island of Honshu in the territory of the present
Shimane province, which subsequently enjoyed a large influence
in medieval Japan. The study of dotaku bells - the technology of
their production, the routes of their distribution - provides
rich material for studying the life of the ancient society of
the Yayoi era.
Nagano
Date of release of the coin into
circulation: July 15, 2009, the number of issued coins: 1830
thousand pieces.
The obverse of the coin depicts the main pavilion of the
Buddhist monastery Zenko: ji (Temple of Good Light) and the
figure of a running bull with a fluttering linen scarf tied to
the horns. The building was built in 644 the capital of the
prefecture, the city of Nagano, was founded as a temple
settlement near this monastery. More than 6 million people from
Japan and other countries make a pilgrimage here every year.
This building is a national treasure of Japan, a cultural and
architectural monument, a symbol of Nagano Prefecture.
In Japan, there is a famous expression: "Hooking on a bull, I
found myself in the temple of the Good Light." According to
legend, an old woman who did not believe in God saw a running
bull, threw a linen scarf over its horns, caught on to the bull,
and the bull brought her straight to the main building of the
Holy Light Temple. After that, the woman believed. The meaning
of the parable is that sometimes, without thinking about
anything, we simply follow good people, and fate leads us to
good.
Niigata
Date of release of the coin into
circulation: July 15, 2009, the number of issued coins: 1840
thousand pieces.
The obverse of the coin depicts the Toki bird, a Japanese
red-legged ibis, the symbol of Niigata. This unique bird,
brought in the Red Book, lives in this region. The coin depicts
two birds: the male Yuyu and female Meimei. The famous terraces
serve as a backdrop tanada - rice fields created in the form of
terraces descending from the slopes of the mountains.
The main agricultural product for Niigata is, without a doubt,
branded rice.
Koshihikari. Literally, the name of this variety is translated
as "Shine of the country of Kosi." Kosi is the name of the
region in the past. Considered the tastiest in Japan, the
Koshihikari variety was bred by Niigata breeders in 1944.
Niigata Prefecture, rich in rice, is also famous for its sake, a
medium-alcohol drink, because it is also made from rice!
Ibaraki
Date of release of the coin into circulation: January 20, 2010,
the number of issued coins: 1870 thousand pieces.
The coin, dedicated to Ibaraki Prefecture, depicts one of
Japan's three most famous traditional gardens, Kairakuen, and a
plum tree. This beautiful garden is located in the prefectural capital city
of Mito. It was built by the 9th shogun Tokugawa Noriaki in
1842. It is the second largest urban park in the world, second
only to Central Park in New York. 3,000 plum trees of 100
varieties grow here. In the park is the villa of the shogun Ko:
bun-tei (Plum Villa) and the famous hall for practicing kyudo
(Japanese archery). Tea ceremonies and competitions of poets
were often held here, the crown prince, the future emperor
Taisho, stopped. The villa burned down twice: in 1945 from a
dropped bomb and in 1969 from a lightning strike. The cultural
significance of the park is indicated on a stone on the path
leading from the Black Gate deep into the garden: Kairakuen
symbolizes the harmony of yin-yang in nature. Bamboo and
cryptomeria, growing in a grove in the western part of the park,
symbolize the feminine
yin is dark and changeable, and the plum grove in the
northeastern part is light and constant, strong yang.
Nara
Date of release of the coin into circulation: January 20, 2010,
the number of issued coins: 1800 thousand pieces.
The capital of the prefecture, Nara, is the first capital of
Japan in the ancient period from 710 to 784, 8
known in Japanese historiography as the Nara era. The capital
was built on the model of the Chinese capital Chang'an. Many
Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines from that era remain in
Nara. The obverse of the coin depicts a ship on a mission from
China.
The image of this ship was copied from the famous written
monument of the late 13th century - a scroll with illustrations
of the Toseiden emakimono. On this ship, the Buddhist monk
Gandzin (Chinese Jianzhen) arrived in Japan, who transmitted the
teachings of the Buddha to the Japanese islands. It is symbolic
that in modern Japan his mission is understood as an example of
the international cultural exchange of that era. The scroll
tells of the long and difficult journey from China to Japan that
Ganjin made. Being invited to Japan by the Japanese emperor,
Ganjin was able to swim to the Japanese archipelago only on the
fifth attempt: either due to bad weather at sea, the ships were
forced to turn back, then the ship was shipwrecked, then Chinese
officials repaired barriers... Ganjin spent three years, to
sail to Japan. In Japan, he served in the main Buddhist temple
Todaiji,
Koti
Date of release of the coin into circulation: July 21, 2010, the
number of issued coins: 1960 thousand pieces.
The obverse of the coin depicts the popular politician of the
Edo period (1603-1868) Sakamoto Ryoma. The political system of
the era
Edo is characterized by the absolute power of the country's
supreme military leader, the Tokugawa shogun. The shogunate
pursued a "foreigner expulsion" policy that forbade all foreign
policy contacts of the country, including trade. Sakamoto Ryoma
was born on January 3, 1836 in the village of Kochi. His active
social activity brought him to the leaders of the new
political movement that fought for Japan's exit from
self-isolation. The main goal of the reformers was the overthrow
of the shogunate and the creation of a modern government that
actively cooperates with world powers for the benefit of its
citizens. In 1867, the coup d'état plan was put into practice:
the shogun renounced his title and resigned his powers as the
military ruler of the country, returning full state power to the
emperor.
Since 1868, Japan entered a new era, called Meiji, the
era of modernization and enlightenment. Sakamoto Ryoma himself
was killed by supporters of the collapsed shogunate at the age
of 32. Despite the fact that the life of this politician was
short, in modern Japan he is revered as a national hero, and his
unusual fate inspires many writers and directors to this day.
Gifu
Date of release of the coin into circulation: July 21, 2010, the
number of issued coins: 1860 thousand pieces.
On the obverse of the coin, we see astragalus flowers in the
foreground. The Chinese Astragalus is the symbol of Gifu
Prefecture. In the background are three wooden
buildings with steep thatched roofs. The three buildings
symbolize the pride of Gifu Prefecture, the historic village of
Shirakawa-go, which was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage
List in 1995. The village is located in a remote mountainous
area of the island of Honshu, where winters are characterized
by heavy snowfalls. The original triangular roofs of houses in
the village of Shirakawa-go are ideally suited for natural
snowfall. These unique objects of traditional architecture are
carefully protected
state in its original form.
Fukui
The coin depicts dinosaurs, the fossilized remains of which were found in the city of Katsuyama, Fukui Prefecture. Fukuiraptor in the foreground, Fukuisaurus in the background. The first species is classified as a species of carnivores dinosaurs from the group of carnosaurs. Presumably, the length of his body was 4.2 meters. Fukuiraptor bones have been found in layers dating back to the Cretaceous period (approximately 120 million years ago). This discovery made it possible to isolate a new, different from previously studied, subspecies of dinosaurs, alive in this region many millions of years ago. The second dinosaur depicted on the coin, Fukuisaurus, belongs to the Iguanodontidae family. The first find of Fukuisaurus remains was made in 1989. It was an important scientific discovery, as it proved a much wider distribution of iguanodontids in Asia than previously thought. Fukuiraptor and Fukuisaurus bones are kept in the Fukui Prefectural Archaeological Museum, which is considered to be the largest and most famous in the country. In 2010, the same year the coin was issued, the museum celebrated its 10th anniversary.
Aichi
Date of release of the coin into circulation: January 19, 2011,
the number of issued coins: 1950 thousand pieces.
The coin depicts the Aichi Prefectural Government Building and
iris flowers. The prefectural government building was
built in 1938. The architecture is in the neoclassical
Teikan-zukuri style,
came into vogue at the beginning of the 20th century. The
classic Tei-kan-zukuri underlies the architecture of medieval
Japanese castles. At the end of the 19th century, this style
received
new distribution in the construction of monumental
administrative buildings. It is characterized by the presence of
a tiled roof imitating the main
the tower of a medieval Japanese castle, bas-reliefs depicting a
Japanese chrysanthemum, symmetrically diverging from the center
of the strict facade of the building, imitating covered
galleries.
This historic building is part of the tangible
cultural heritage of Japan. The second image on the coin is iris
flowers, the symbol of Aichi Prefecture. Not far from the small
town of Kariya, on Lake Kozutsumi, the third largest natural
iris field in Japan blooms every year. Thousands of tourists
from all over Japan come here in May to admire the wild irises.
The lake is protected as a national reserve.
Aomori
Date of release of the coin into circulation: January 19, 2011,
the number of issued coins: 1900 thousand pieces.
The coin depicts an archaeological monument of the Neolithic era
- the Sannai-Maruyama site and 2 clay figurines of dogu, sim
volizyvayuschie culture of the ancient Japanese of the Jomon
period (5th century BC). The San-nai-Maruyama site was
discovered by archaeologists in the area of the city of Aomori
on the slope of Mount Maruyama. It is the remains of a large
settlement, in which, according to scientists, from 100 to 200
people lived. In the dated period, the Japanese were just
beginning to lead a sedentary lifestyle, on average, settlements
numbered no more than 20 people. In addition to traces of
dwellings, barns, garbage heaps, a large tower-like structure,
presumably for religious purposes, has been preserved on the
territory of the Sannay site. During the excavation of the
monument, a large number of clay dogu figurines were found. The
figurines depicted on the coin represent the two most typical
types: shakoki-dogu (figurine with glasses) and gassho-dogu
(figurine with hands folded in prayer). Shakoki-dogu got its
name from the unusual shape of the eyes, resembling large
eyepieces with narrow slits. Dogu figurines are a vivid
illustration of the ancient
art, they are recognized as a national treasure of Japan and are
kept in the Tokyo National Museum.
Saga
Date of release of the coin into circulation: January 19, 2011,
the number of issued coins: 1910 thousand pieces.
The coin depicts a portrait of the famous politician, financier,
diplomat Ookuma Shigenobu (life: 1838-1922) against the
background of traditional
handmade brocade ornament made in Saga prefecture. Ookuma
Shigenobu entered the history of Japan not only as the 8th
and 17th Prime Minister, but also as the founder of one
one of the largest and most prestigious universities in Japan is
Waseda University. He also initiated the introduction of a new
state currency, which was the modern yen. 2011 marked the 140th
anniversary of the official introduction of the yen into
circulation. On the recommendation of Ookuma Shigenobu, the
original handmade saganishiki brocade, the ornament of which is
depicted on the coin, was presented at the International Fair in
London in 1910, earning the most flattering reviews from
visitors to the exhibition.
Japanese
manufacturers received large orders from European trading
companies.
The creation of saganishiki brocade consists in using, along
with silk, gold thread made from gold foil and fibers of
traditional Japanese washi paper.
Toyama
Date of release of the coin into circulation: July 20, 2011, the
number of issued coins: 1800 thousand pieces.
The obverse of the coin depicts two dancing figures: on the left
- a woman, on the right - a man. Dancers perform
traditional dance of Owarakaze no Bon. The Bon holiday is
celebrated throughout Japan. Its tradition is connected with the
ritual of commemoration of the souls of deceased relatives.
Since ancient times
it was believed that from August 13 to 15, the souls of the dead
return to the living and visit their relatives. In order for the
spirits not to get lost in the dark, people decorate their
houses and streets with many burning lanterns, which is why this
holiday is also called the "Lantern Festival".
In Toyama, in the village of Yatsuo, this traditional festival
is celebrated from September 1 to 3 and has its own original
history. From the beginning of September, strong typhoons came
to this region for a long time, destroying the harvest, so the
rite of “pacifying the wind” was included in the ritual of the
holiday. Young people: unmarried girls and single guys dress in
traditional clothes, cover their heads with straw hats that hide
their faces, and dance a ritual dance, moving in a colorful
column along the main street of the village. The faces,
according to the ritual, should be hidden from the wrath of the
deities, whom people try to propitiate with singing and dancing.
The festival uses a rare kokyu musical instrument, accompanied
by a sad song. This particular style of music is unique in the
region.
Kumamoto
Date of release of the coin into circulation: July 20, 2011, the
number of issued coins: 1870 thousand pieces.
The obverse of the coin depicts the main Tenshu Tower and the
fortress wall of Kumamoto Castle. Kumamoto Castle, also known as
Crow Castle, was
built in 1607 by Prince Kato Kiyomasa. In 1877, a significant
part of the castle was destroyed as a result of a long siege
during the Satsuma uprising. During the half of the 20th century, the castle was restored,
the main Tenshu tower was opened in 1960.
Parts of the castle have become important artifacts for the
study of Japanese history, they have been included in the list
of national treasures. Fortress wall, image
coin, has an original design. The slope of the wall, sharply
increasing towards the top, did not allow the attackers to
easily climb the stone
masonry and climb over the fence. Therefore, it got its own name
- "the wall that puts enemies to flight."
Tottori
Date of release of the coin into circulation: July 20, 2011, the
number of issued coins: 1770 thousand pieces.
The obverse of the coin depicts a part of the Sanbutsuji
Buddhist temple complex - the Nagaire-do chapel, located on the
very top of Mount Mitoku.
Mount Mitoku is one of the most beautiful natural attractions in
Tottori Prefecture. It is included in the list of the most
picturesque places in Japan.
The peculiarity of the Nagaire-do chapel is that it was built in
a cleft of an almost sheer cliff at a height of 520 meters at
the end of the Heian era (794-1185). According to legend, the
founder of the temple, the hermit monk En no Ozunu, raised the
temple to the top of the mountain with the help of supernatural
power, which he gained through persistent meditation and reading
the sutras. That is why, according to legend, the temple was
called "Nagaire-do", which literally translates as "temple
abandoned on the mountain." The Sanbutsuji temple complex and
the Nagaire-do shrine are listed as National Treasures of Japan.
Whitefish
Date of release of the coin into circulation: January 18, 2012,
the number of issued coins: 1770 thousand pieces.
The coin depicts giant burbot and golden carp, endemic to Lake
Biwa, located in Shiga Prefecture. Lake
Biwa is the largest freshwater lake in Japan, covering an area
of 3,174 km2 and
Stu about 63 km. The clean and clear water of the lake is an
excellent habitat for more
than 1100 species of fauna. Among them there are also unique
endemic forms. The giant burbot of Lake Biwa was discovered and
registered as a new subspecies in 1961. Its body length reaches
120 cm. This fish is also considered a long-liver, life
expectancy is up to 20 years. Golden carp, as well as giant
burbot, lives in the only place on the planet - in Lake Biwa.
This is not a very large fish, the body length reaches an
average of 20-40 cm. However, golden carp meat is considered an
exquisite delicacy. Golden carp is listed in the Red Book and is
protected by the state. There are many hatcheries in Shiga
Prefecture where this fish is bred to maintain the population
and ecological balance of Lake Biwa.
Iwate
Date of release of the coin into circulation: January 18, 2012,
the number of issued coins: 1790 thousand pieces.
The coin depicts the outer pavilion of the golden hall of
Chuseonji Monastery and a scene from the Heian era (794-1185)
poetic game "Feast at Bent Water". Buddhist Chusonji Monastery, located in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture,
was founded in 850.
In the XII-XIII centuries, he played an important political role
in the country. It was at this time that a large number of
structures for various purposes were erected on its territory:
cells of monks, a dining hall, a hall of centenarians, a bell
tower, and the Golden Hall. To protect Zolo
of that ceremonial hall from winds, rains and bad weather, an
additional external pavilion was built. The outer pavilion of
the Golden Hall along with others buildings of the monastery are included in the list of
national treasures of Japan. In front of the stairs leading to
the pavilion, on the coin we see a figure dressed in traditional
clothes from the Heian period. Symbol images the medieval tradition of poetic tournaments, which were
held by aristocrats in the picturesque corners of the lush
temple gardens. Currently, the scientific community is supported
by the government
prefecture is engaged in the historical reconstruction of this
important element of medieval culture. Every year on the fourth
Sunday of May, a festival is held in the garden of Motsu-ji
Temple, where you can see the poetry tournament "Feast at the
Bent Water".
Akita
Date of release of the coin into circulation: January 18, 2012,
the number of issued coins: 1740 thousand pieces.
The coin depicts the famous Japanese traveler Shirase Nobu and
the lanterns of the famous Akita Kanto festival. Shirase Nobu born in the village of Konoura, Akita Prefecture. Since
childhood, his dream was to conquer Antarctica.
After spending 40 years of his life, he realized his plan. In
1910, Shirase Nobu led the Japanese Antarctic Expedition. On
January 16, 1912, the group landed on the Antarctic continent,
however, due to a lack of provisions and equipment, the Shirase
Nobu research team turned back without reaching the South Pole
of the Earth. However, Shirase returned home a national hero,
his journey causing a rise in patriotic spirit in the country.
Subsequently, the icebreaker Shirase was named after him. The
lanterns depicted on the coin next to the portrait of Shirase
Nobu are the symbol of the colorful Akita Kanto festival, held
annually from August 5 to 7. The main attribute of the holiday
is multi-storey garlands of paper lanterns, which are skillfully
carried through the streets of Akita by skilled porters. Each of
them competes in the ability to hold a giant structure in the
palm of one hand, on the forehead or chin. It's a fascinating
sight
come here to see numerous tourists from all over the country.
Okinawa
Date of release of the coin into circulation: July 18, 2012, the
number of issued coins: 1760 thousand pieces.
The obverse of the coin symbolically depicts two famous
festivals held annually
on the island of Okinawa. The first image is a thick rope,
symbolizing the traditional Otsunahiki festival, the main action
of which is dedicated to pulling a giant rope. The history of
this custom goes back to the middle
XV century, when a separate state of Ryukyu existed on the
territory of Okinawa. The tug-of-war ritual was held annually in
the fall for the prosperity of the Ryukyu Dynasty. Now the
festival is held by the municipality of the city of Naha with
the wishes of happiness, health and well-being of all citizens,
gathering on the main street of the city more than 15 thousand
residents and guests of the city. Divided into two teams
participants pull a giant straw rope that weighs over 40 tons.
The second image on the coin is a dancer with a drum,
symbolizing the festival of Ace. Eisa is a dance festival held
on the island of Okinawa every year in August, during the
traditional Japanese ancestral obon festival. A colorful parade
of young people performing a ritual dance to the beat of drums
passes through the main streets of cities in Okinawa Prefecture.
Kanagawa
Date of release of the coin into circulation: July 18, 2012, the
number of issued coins: 1890 thousand pieces.
The obverse of the coin depicts a statue of the Big Buddha. The
Big Buddha is a world-famous landmark located in the Kamakura city of the
prefecture
Kanagawa. Kamakura is an ancient city, after which an entire
historical period from 1185 to 1333 was named.
During this period of Japanese history, there was
the main headquarters of the shogunate, which established
centralized power in the state. During this period, the Buddhist
teachings of Zen became widespread. In the country
temples and monasteries were built everywhere, erected
statues of Buddha. One of them is especially revered and
grandiose: the Big Buddha in the city of Kamakura was cast in
bronze in 1252. The statue is 11.5 meters high and weighs 93
tons. It is a symbol of a peaceful and prosperous state. In
1897, the Big Buddha in Kamakura was declared a national
treasure in Japan.
Miyazaki
Date of release of the coin into circulation: July 18, 2012, the
number of issued coins: 1740 thousand pieces.
The obverse of the coin depicts the historical building of the
Miyazaki Prefectural Administration, located on the island of
Kyushu. It was built in 1932 and is
one of the oldest prefectural government buildings in Japan. The
building has 5 floors, including one under earthly. The
architecture of the building is made in the Neo-Gothic style, the facade is
decorated with four majestic columns. An evergreen alley stretches in front of
the main entrance
from specially planted trees - symbols of the prefecture. Among
them: date palm, sago palm and agave. Nowadays, due to its
unique fauna, this prefecture has become a real Mecca for
honeymoon trips.
Tochigi
Date of release of the coin into circulation: January 16, 2013,
the number of issued coins: 1800 thousand pieces.
The obverse of the coin depicts the bas-reliefs of a "sleeping
cat" and a "sparrow" decorating the passage of the main
attraction of Tochigi Prefecture - the temple
Toshogu complex, located in the Nikko mountains. Toshogu Temple
in Nikko is dedicated to the founder of the shogun dynasty,
Tokugawa Ieyasu. During the lifetime of Tokugawa Ieyasu
ordered his subjects to build a sanctuary on this site after his
death, where part of
his relics, so that his spirit would protect the capital from
"enemies from the north." According to legend, the bas-relief
was created by the famous master Jingoro Lefty. The legend says
that the master made all his masterpieces with his left hand,
since envious competitors cut off his right hand. The bas-relief
is located above the narrow door leading to the interior of the
temple. On one side of the aisle is a sleeping cat, on the other
a sparrow. The whole composition symbolizes the peaceful
coexistence of the once warring parties, the reign of peace and
tranquility after the era of civil strife and wars. The Toshogu
Temple Complex was declared a National Treasure of Japan in
1951.
Oita
Date of release of the coin into circulation: January 16, 2013,
the number of issued coins: 1790 thousand pieces.
The obverse of the coin depicts the main stone statue of Buddha
Dainichinyorai (Skt. - Wairo-chana), which is located in the
city of Usuki, Oita Prefecture, located
located on the island of Kyushu. The stone Buddha statues, known
as the Usuki Stone Buddhas, are located in a grotto-gallery
carved directly into the rock.
In the middle is the main sculpture - Buddha Vairochana,
dominant in the early schools of Buddhism in Japan. The history
of the creation of the Usuki Buddhas dates back to the 10th-12th
centuries. The exact time of the creation of the sculptures is
unknown, since historical evidence has not been preserved. Local
legend and chronicle monuments report their creation in the
second half of the 6th century and associate this with the name
of Emperor Yomei. But artistic analysis and archaeological data
testify to a later origin.
In 1995, the Usuki Stone Buddha was registered as a National
Cultural Treasure.
Hyogo
Date of release of the coin into circulation: January 16, 2013,
the number of issued coins: 1800 thousand pieces.
Hyogo Prefecture and its capital, the port city of Kobe, are
located on the coast of the Inland Sea of Japan, so throughout
their history they have played a special role in the development
of Japan's foreign trade with foreign countries. The name Hyogo
was given during
the name of Emperor Tenji (7th century CE), and means "weapon
stores", because this is where they
and located.
A coin dedicated to Hyogo Prefecture depicts two Far Eastern
storks. The growth of adults reaches 115 cm, and the wingspan in
flight exceeds 2 meters! The habitat of these beautiful birds is
the Hyogo National Park. This is a scientific and ecological
complex for breeding, supporting the population of storks, as
well as their adaptation in the wild. It is curious that in 1986
the last individuals born and raised in Japan died, but since
there were already reasons to foresee their disappearance, in
1985 stork chicks were brought from Russia. The birds have taken
root well in Japan, and their population at the end of 2011
consisted of about 150 individuals. Hyogo also has a Shinto
sky temple, where the stork is revered.
Miyagi
Date of release of the coin into circulation: July 17, 2013, the
number of issued coins: 1700 thousand pieces.
Miyagi is located on the Pacific coast of the northeastern part
of the island of Honshu. It was she who suffered from the
devastating earthquake and tsunami on March 11
2011, which claimed the lives of about 18,500 people. But the
symbol of the prefecture on the coin is the ancient romantic
holiday of Tanabata in the capital of the prefecture, the city
of Sendai, emphasizing that the inhabitants of Miyagi, despite
all natural disasters, cherish traditions and know how to enjoy
life. This is one of the main ritual holidays of the year along
with the New Year.
It is held from 6 to 8 August. The Tanabata festival is also
held in other parts of Japan, but a month earlier than July 7th.
According to legend, the boy-boothes and the girl-weaver fell in
love with each other, but in this life they were not destined to
be together. So two stars of the same name appeared in the sky,
separated by the Milky Way. And only for a few days in the
summer they are allowed to approach each other. This happens on
the Tanabata holiday. Date Masamune, the ruler of Sendai, at the
beginning of the 17th century ordered the Tanabata festival to
be widely celebrated so that women could become more involved in culture. Since
then, every year the streets of Sendai are decorated with colorful large balls
of paper flowers with hanging long garlands, they sway in the wind, echoing the
sounds of the August breeze. The shopping street is busier than usual, many
tourists from all over Japan come to the festiva.
Hiroshima
Date of release of the coin into circulation: July 17, 2013, the
number of issued coins: 1700 thousand pieces.
The obverse of the coin, dedicated to Hiroshima, depicts the
prefecture's sad symbol, the "Atomic Dome" in the Peace Memorial
Park. The building was built
in 1915 under the direction of the Czech architect Jan Letzel
and served as the Exhibition Center for the Industrial
Production of Hiroshima Prefecture. On August 6, 1945, Hiroshima
was subjected to an atomic bombing, and the building of the
Exhibition Center fell into the epicenter of the explosion. The
buildings around were destroyed or burned, and only dilapidated
walls remained of the Atomic Dome. In this unchanged form, it
still reminds of the horrors of war. In December 1996, the
Atomic Dome was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A
documentary example of the atomic bombing - it still sounds like
a call for peace for all the inhabitants of the planet. Around
the Atomic Dome
the Peace Memorial Park is broken, there is also a museum, the
exposition of which is dedicated to the history of the atomic
bombing and its consequences. In the central room of the Atomic
Dome, the names of people and residents of Hiroshima and
foreigners who died as a result of these tragic events are
carved on a stone stele. Hiroshima has been rebuilt and is a
city of hope and call for peace.
Gumma
Date of release of the coin into circulation: July 17, 2013, the
number of issued coins: 1720 thousand pieces.
As an illustration of Gunma Prefecture, a girl was chosen - a
worker of the Tomioka silk weaving factory and a commemorative
stone in front of the main entrance of the factory. The silk
weaving factory was built and opened in 1872 in the city of
Tomioka, Gunma Prefecture. It is one of Japan's oldest modern
format textile factories. The construction of the factory took
place during the period of modernization of Japan, the active
introduction of Western technologies. At the most modern factory
by the standards of that time, 400 working girls from all over
Japan worked. For the first time, Japanese women began to work
in an industrial enterprise.
The factory became one of the
symbols of the industrial revolution in Japan, and Japanese silk
was exported to Europe and America. The owners of the factory
changed, production expanded, new buildings were built. There
was a silkworm breeding farm, and cold warehouses where cocoons
were stored, and workshops where threads were wound, and even a
school for training workers, a hostel. Silk production at the
factory continued until 1986, when, under the influence of the
changing economic situation, silk production in Tomioka ceased
to be profitable. Subsequently, the factory was included in the
list of historical monuments of national importance. In 2005,
the factory was opened to the public, and now it houses a museum
and tourist complex.
Okayama
Date of release of the coin into circulation: January 15, 2014,
the number of issued coins: 1660 thousand pieces.
Okayama Prefecture is located southwest of Osaka and Kyoto in
the Chugoku region on the coast of the Inland Sea of Japan.
In times of feudal fragmentation. There was a strong militarily and handicraft principality here,
which was headed by the famous feudal clans of Ikeda and Mori.
It was the representative of the Ikeda clan, the daimyo
(governor of the province) Ikeda Tsunamasa, who founded and
built the magnificent Japanese traditional Korakuen garden. The
image of the Korakuen garden, presented on the commemorative
coin, symbolizes Okayama Prefecture. Korakuen Park is one of the
Three Great Gardens of Japan. It was laid out in 1687 and fully
completed in 1702.
The original name of the park was "later
built garden" because it was built after the Ikeda family castle
was built. After the fall of the shogunate, the young emperor
Meiji issued a decree on the destruction of many castles -
military installations that pose a potential danger to the new
government. Okayama Castle was also destroyed, but the park
remained untouched. Therefore, the Ikeda family was forced to
move to a small living pavilion in the garden. Experiencing
financial difficulties and being unable to support
park, she wanted to sell the property, but was opposed by the
council and prefectural government, who emphasized the park's
cultural significance as a historical landmark in Okayama. As a
result, the park was bought from the family by the local
administration and opened to the public. Now the landscape
design with ponds and bridges, all trees and plants, the tea
pavilion and other buildings are carefully preserved in the
park. The total area of the park is 133 thousand m2 .
Shizuoka
Date of release of the coin into circulation: January 15, 2014,
the number of issued coins: 1700 thousand pieces.
The obverse of the coin depicts tea fields on the slopes of
Mount Fuji, the most popular symbol of Japan. Mount Fuzdi - the
highest in Japan, is an extinct volcano with a height of 3776
meters. The legendary mountain has long been an object of
worship for the Japanese and
lived as a source of inspiration for artists, poets and
musicians. The mountain has a large area at the base, and its
slopes are located in different prefectures. But the main pride
of Shizuoka is the famous tea plantations. According to legend,
the cultivation of tea in Shizuoka began in 1241, when a
Buddhist monk, Saint Shoichikokushi, brought tea seeds from
China and decided to grow them in his native places in Shizuoka.
It is said that the tea of the holy Shoichikokushi preserves
youth and promotes longevity. Every year on November 1st, the
birthday of the holy monk, Shizuoka celebrates Tea Day.
At present, the area of tea plantations in the prefecture is
more than 185 km2 , and the largest amount of green tea is
produced here annually - 33,500 tons, which is 40% of all tea
produced in Japan.
Yamanashi
Date of release of the coin into circulation: January 15, 2014,
the number of issued coins: 1670 thousand pieces.
Yamanashi is another prefecture where the slopes of Mount Fuji
descend. Here the climate is most favorable for growing grapes.
It is these symbols
depicted on the obverse of the coin. The Koshu grape variety
cultivated in Yamanashi belongs to the East Asian group, is of
European origin and is used for making white wines. According to
legend, in 1186, a man named Amemiya Kageyu walked along a
mountain path to a traditional Buddhist holiday (Sekisonsai
holiday). An amazing and hitherto unseen sprout caught his eye.
He dug it up, brought it home and planted it. Five years later
he collected the first harvest of sweet fruits. But this is not the only
legend about how people found grapes. The mystery of the
penetration of European grape seeds into Japan has not yet been
solved. For many centuries, the Japanese have enjoyed raw
Yamanashi grapes, and they began to make wine relatively
recently - from the second half of the 19th century. Now wines
from Yamanashi grapes are even exported to Europe.
Kagoshima
Date of release of the coin into circulation: January 15, 2014,
the number of issued coins: 1660 thousand pieces.
Kagoshima Prefecture is located in the south of Kyushu, and it
includes a lot of both inhabited and uninhabited
islands. One of them - the island of Sakurajima - is located on
the coin. This is an island-volcano with a total area of 77 km
2 in Kagoshima Bay. Before 1914
Sakurajima, as its name says "sakura island", was a real island.
But as a result
volcanic eruptions frozen lava flows connected Sakurajima to the
mainland. The volcano formed about 26 thousand years ago and is
quite young from a geological point of view. His active work is
still the object of close attention of scientists. It is one of
16 special volcanoes studied by the World Scientific Association
of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth.
This unique Sakurajima volcano is rightfully considered one of
the symbols of Kagoshima, attracting many tourists. Here you can
also buy rare souvenirs, for example, a volcanic lava pan for
barbecue.
Ehime
Date of release of the coin into circulation: July 16, 2014, the
number of issued coins: 1650 thousand pieces.
Ehime Prefecture Coin Shows Setonai Road and Bridge
on land and sea and connecting Ehime Prefecture on the island of
Shikoku and Hiroshima on Honshu. The road was put into operation
in 1999. In addition to the highway, it includes specialized
paths along which you can cross the strait that separates Honshu
and Shikoku, both on foot and by bicycle. The Kuroshima-Kaikyo
Suspension Bridge consists of three sectors, based on islands,
and has a length of 4105 km. The bridge is depicted against the
background of a range of islands scattered along the coast,
which are also part of Ehime Prefecture. In 1934, a unique
national park "Inland Sea of Japan Marine Park" was created on
these islands, which became the first national park in Japan.
Yamagata
Date of release of the coin into circulation: January 15, 2014,
the number of issued coins: 1660 thousand pieces.
A coin dedicated to Yamagata Prefecture depicts a female jōmon
clay figurine. The era of Jomon ("rope
ny ornament") corresponds to the Neolithic era (from 13000 BC to
300 BC)
Its feature is the distribution of potters
culture and the use of ceramic products by the inhabitants of
the Japanese archipelago. Especially many archaeological finds
of this era were made in the northeastern region of the island
of Honshu, in the region where Yamagata Prefecture is located.
The figurine of the goddess Jomon, as archaeologists called her,
was found in the city of Funagata, Yamagata Prefecture in 1992
during the excavation of the Nishi no mae mound. This is the
highest - 45 cm - clay dogu figurine, which was found in Japan.
Scholars estimate that it was made about 4,500 years ago during
the middle Jōmon period. For the beauty of the form and
elegance, she was called the "Goddess Jomon". The figurine is
stored
in the Yamagata Prefectural Museum, in 2012 it was declared a
national cultural property.
Mie
Date of release of the coin into circulation: January 15, 2014,
the number of issued coins: 1670 thousand pieces.
The obverse of the coin in honor of Mie Prefecture depicts one
of the Kumanokodo pilgrimage trails leading from the main Shinto
shrines in Ise to the three sacred mountains of Kumano - the
great Shinto shrines of Kumano: Hongu-taisha, Hayatama-taisha
and Nachi-taisha. The trails cross Mie, Nara, Wakayama and Osaka
prefectures. These pilgrimage trails have existed since the
Heian era (9th-12th centuries). The longest Iseji trail is 160
km. Once upon a time in the Edo period (XVII-XIX centuries), it
was very busy: the Japanese liked to make pilgrimages on foot
from Ise to Kumano. The features of the trails are
that they partially preserved the ancient stones with which they
were originally paved. The stone paving of the trails was made
because this area of Japan has long received the largest
amount of precipitation in the form of rain. In 2004, three
trails became UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Kagawa
Date of release of the coin into circulation: January 21, 2015,
the number of issued coins: 1630 thousand pieces.
The obverse of the coin depicts a landscape representing Kagawa
Prefecture: a view from the Shinto shrine of Kompira towards the
Sanuki Valley. This shrine is dedicated to the gods protecting seafarers and fishermen, and annually up
to 3 million people make a pilgrimage here. The pilgrimage trail
is a long stone staircase. 785 steps lead to the main temple,
and 1368 steps to the inner altars. Many
Shrine pavilions such as the Shoin Treasury of Scrolls or the
Altar of the Rising Sun have the status of cultural heritage in
Japan. Masterpieces of art and the most important cultural
monuments are kept here. From the observation deck of the
sanctuary, a panoramic view of the green Sanuki plain surrounded
by mountains opens up. In shape, it resembles a Japanese onigiri
rice ball and is strewn with artificial ponds - all this gives
the landscape its originality.
Saitama
Date of release of the coin into circulation: January 21, 2015,
the number of issued coins: 1780 thousand pieces.
Saitama Prefecture is located in close proximity to Tokyo and
can be said to be a residential area, comfort
a place to live for Japanese people working in Tokyo. The
Saitama Prefecture coin depicts the Saitama Arena -
modern sports facility built by 2002. Its capacity is 63,700
people. It is the largest football stadium in Japan and the
largest in Asia. It hosted matches of the 2002 FIFA World Cup,
which was held in Japan and South Korea. It also hosts matches
of the regular Japanese football championship and other sports
competitions, as well as cultural events.
Ishikawa
Date of release of the coin into circulation: January 21, 2015,
the number of issued coins: 1660 thousand pieces.
The obverse of the coin, dedicated to Ishikawa Prefecture,
depicts a view from Kiba Bay to the Hakusan stratovolcano and
the traditional Kiriko festival. This is the most
beautiful scenery of the prefecture. Mount Hakusan is considered
one of the three most beautiful mountains in Japan along with Mount Fuji
and Tateyama. In the vicinity of the mountain, many rare plants
grow, relic beech groves and a special ecological system has
formed, so in 1962 a national reserve was established here.
There are many lakes and snowy slopes, offering picturesque
views of mountains, bays and lagoons. Kiriko Festival is a
traditional ancient festival in Ishikawa Prefecture. Kiriko are
huge luminous lanterns 12 meters high and weighing up to 2 tons. Rectangular
lanterns with large hieroglyphs written on them, festively decorated roofs crown
the lanterns. During festive processions, luminous lanterns are carried along
the streets of the city to folk songs and cries. About 100 people carry one
lantern. The oldest mention of the holiday dates back to 1647 in the annals of
the local Shinto shrine. The holiday is associated with the agricultural
calendar.
Yamaguchi
Date of release of the coin into circulation: July 15, 2015, the
number of issued coins: 1610 thousand pieces.
The five-story pagoda (Buddhist religious building in the form
of a tower with tiered roofs) of the Ruriko Monastery was chosen
as the symbol of Yamaguchi Prefecture, which is located in the prefectural capital city of
Yamaguchi. The pagoda has the status of a monument of national
cultural heritage. The building was built by order of the 26th
prince Moriharu from the Ouchi clan in memory of the deceased
elder brother, and in 1442 its construction was completed. Being
a cultural monument of the Muromachi era (1336-1573), this place
of worship is considered the most prominent representative of
the culture of the Ouchi family in architecture. The height of
the tower is 31.2 meters.
It is one of the ten oldest and three
most beautiful pagodas in Japan. Rod Outi, who ruled this region
for two hundred years,
managed to develop reliable economic and trade ties with China
and Korea, it was in Yamaguchi that
and the first Europeans, including the Christian missionary
Francis Xavier, who is considered one of the first Christian
priests to arrive in Japan and pass on the teachings of Christ
to the Japanese. The economic position of Yamaguchi was the most
stable during this historical period in Japan. The beauty of the
city was not inferior to Kyoto, and it is no coincidence that it
was called the "Western Capital".
Tokushima
Date of release of the coin into circulation: July 15, 2015, the
number of issued coins: 1630 thousand pieces.
On the obverse of the coin, dedicated to Tokushima Prefecture,
dancers are depicted: a man and a woman - the folk dance Awa-odori
(Country Ava - ancient
the name of this region). This ancient traditional
the dance has a history of more than four hundred years, and
thanks to it, Tokushima Prefecture is known throughout
the world. It is performed annually in mid-August from 12 to 15
on the O-Bon holiday, a Buddhist holiday to commemorate
ancestors. It is believed that in the days of O-bon
the souls of the departed return to visit their families. The
dance is performed in colorful costumes to the accompaniment of
shamisen - a 3-stringed instrument like a lute, Japanese drums
and flutes. It is also accompanied by brave rhythmic cries, the
size of the dance is two-quarters.
The origins of the dance go
back to the Buddhist ritual dances of furyu, with which the pro
origin of the Japanese traditional mask theater No. The folk
story of the origin of the dance says that after the completion
of the construction of the samurai castle, a holiday was
arranged and a decree was issued "dance as you like." Since
then, the dance has continued every year. It is noteworthy that
the residents of the prefecture liked the holiday so much that
the government was forced to issue a decree on the timing of the
dance carnival - no more than three days. Now, every year, 1
million 200 thousand tourists from around the world come to see
Ava-odori.
Fukuoka
Date of release of the coin into circulation: July 15, 2015, the
number of issued coins: 1680 thousand pieces.
The coin dedicated to Fukuoka Prefecture depicts the building of
the State Museum of Kyushu Island, the Taiko-bashi bridge in the
Dazaifu Shrine -
temmangu and plum blossoms. The Kyushu Museum of Local Lore was
opened in October 2005. Its concept was conceived as a
presentation of Japanese culture in the context of pan-Asian
history. Dazaifu-tenmangu shrine was founded in the 10th century
AD. e. in honor of Saint Sugawara Michizane, scholar and
educator. Being highly educated, he made a brilliant career in
the capital, but then fate decreed that he was exiled as the
supreme ruler in the province. Here, in Kyushu, he died, never
accustomed to exile.
During the difficult period of internecine
wars in the 16th century, the sanctuary was partially destroyed,
but many buildings were restored. The sacred Taiko-bashi bridge
on the territory of the temple complex was built over a pond in
the form of the character "soul". It is believed that Shinto
deities cross this pond. This bridge symbolically consists of
three bridges, embodying three Buddhist concepts: "past",
"present" and "future". Worshipers place their palms together in
prayer as they cross this bridge. Plum was Sugawara Michizane's
favorite flower, so over 6,000 trees were planted on the grounds
of the shrine. This sanctuary patronizes sciences, students and
researchers.
Wakayama
Date of release of the coin into circulation: January 20, 2016,
the number of issued coins: 1610 thousand pieces.
The coin depicts the nature symbol of Wakayama Prefecture, the
Nachi-notaki waterfall. The small river Nachi that flows in this
area, overcoming the mountainous terrain in the town of
Nachi-Katsuura, forms a waterfall.
Water falls in a vertical stream from a height of 133 meters,
while the width of the river at the top of the waterfall is 13
meters. However, the waterfall is interesting not only from the
point of view of the natural landscape, but, first of all, as
part of the spiritual culture of Japan. Behind the falls lies
the virgin forest of Nachi, and in front of it lies the
pilgrimage trail to the Kumano Nachi Taisha Shinto shrine. It is
believed that the spirit of the waterfall lives in the sanctuary and the forest
is also inhabited by spirits. The red shrine - the room where the Shinto prayer
is performed - is in harmony with the falling water and the primeval forest,
creating the unique beauty of the unity of nature and the divine principle. The
sanctuary was associated with many Buddhist temples, which were liquidated at
the end of the 19th century by decree on the separation of religions - Buddhism
and Shinto.
Osaka
Date of release of the coin into circulation: January 20, 2016,
the number of issued coins: 1700 thousand pieces.
The Osaka metropolis, the third most populated city in Japan, is
the capital of the prefecture of the same name, which, along
with Kyoto, has a special status emphasizing the important
role of Osaka with economic, political and cultural
tour points of view. It was in the area of \u200b\u200bmodern
Osaka that Japanese statehood was born and the first emperors
built the new state of Yamato. The coin dedicated to this
prefecture depicts the kofun mound of the 16th Emperor of Japan,
Nintoku, who ruled in the 4th century AD. e. The barrow dates
back to the second half of the 4th - beginning of the 5th
century AD. e.
This is the most pain
shoi, the so-called keyhole-shaped kofun, when the circle is
connected to an elongated triangular base. Its perimeter length
is
486 meters, but if you count together with the adjacent ditches,
which are also part of the barrow complex, then it will be 840
meters. This grand mound has become a symbol of power. Not only
Nintoku is buried here, but also other emperors and members of
their families. This is one of the largest ancient burial sites
in the world, along with the Egyptian pyramids and the tombs of
Chinese emperors. Around the main burial there are many small
"keyholes" - apparently, the burials of people of a lower rank.
The main burial has a seven-stage structure. In 2010, the
Nintoku Mound was inscribed on the UNESCO World Cultural
Heritage List.
Nagasaki
Date of release of the coin into circulation: January 20, 2016,
the number of issued coins: 1600 thousand pieces.
On the obverse of the coin dedicated to Nagasaki, the building
of Oura Roman Catholic Church in Nagasaki, famous for its
frontal stained-glass windows. Church of Oura
built in honor of 26 Japanese martyrs - the first
Japanese Christians executed by crucifixion on the orders of
Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1597 in Nagasaki for professing
Christianity. Oura Church is one of two Western-style
architectural structures that have been designated a cultural
treasure of Japan (1953). The construction of the church was
completed in 1864. Now
masses are held in the church and it is open to tourists. The
special pride of the church is its frontal stained-glass
windows, which are emphasized in the image on the coin. Stained
glass windows are inserted into the arched windows, they depict
the crucified Jesus, the grieving Virgin Mary and scenes from
the Holy Scriptures. The stained-glass windows are made up of
separate glass fragments and are distinguished by a rich color
palette. For Japan, Nagasaki, where the first Europeans arrived,
and Oura Church are symbols of the entry of Western culture and
Christianity into Japan.
TIBA
Date of release of the coin into circulation: January 20, 2016,
the number of issued coins: 1680 thousand pieces.
The Chiba Prefecture Commemorative Coin depicts the Pacific
Coast in Chiba Prefecture on the Boso Peninsula. This amazing
natural beach
Kyujukuri with white sands stretches along the coast of the
Pacific Ocean from the city of Asahi to the city of Isumi. Its
length is 66 km. The etymology of the name of the beach is
curious, which can be translated into Russian as “99 ri” (a
Chinese measure of length equal to about 300 steps). According
to legend, the first ruler of the Kamakura shogunate, the great
Minamoto Yoritomo, wanted to measure the length of the
coastline. On each ri, he fired an arrow from his bow to the
next point. As a result, 99 arrows were fired, and the sandy
edge of the coast was called "99 ri". Since the XX century. the
beach has ceased to be used in economic activities for fishing
or merchant ships. Now it is a place for beach holidays and sea
sports. The beach is part of the National Natural Park and is
protected by the state.
Fukushima
Approximate date of release of the coin into circulation: May 7,
2016, the estimated number of issued coins: no more than 2000
thousand pieces.
The Fukushima Prefecture coin depicts
ritual holiday Soma-Nomaoi (Equestrian Festival) and horses competing
in speed. This ancient rite, which has a religious
background, is held annually in the city of Soma, Fukushima
Prefecture. In this area in the feudal period of history, the
inheritance of Nakamura was located, headed by the samurai clan
of Soma. Warriors
Nakamura were excellent riders, they also bred an excellent
breed of horses, so the Soma cavalry units took part in many
battles. It is not known exactly when this holiday began to be
held, but in the Edo period (XVII-XIX centuries) it became very
popular. After Emperor Meiji came to power in 1868, the Soma
clan was defeated, the horse festivals ceased to be held, and
the horses were sold out.
In 1878, a special permit was obtained from the Ministry of the
Interior of Japan for the restoration of horse breeding.
The festival depicted on the obverse of the coin takes place in
July and is a reconstruction of battle scenes involving cavalry.
500 armed samurai riders in full military attire act out scenes
from the era of samurai wars. Many tourists from all over Japan
come to see this spectacle. The culmination of the holiday is a
speed contest, when the 10 strongest riders, dressed in all
armor, must gallop a 1000-meter distance at speed.
Tokyo
Approximate date of release of the coin into circulation: May 7,
2016, the estimated number of issued coins: no more than 2000
thousand pieces.
The series of coins is completed by the capital of Japan - the
city of Tokyo, equated in terms of administrative division to
the prefecture. The coin dedicated to Tokyo depicts the ancient
brick building of Tokyo Central Station Maru-no-uchi and Gyoko
Street,
leading from the station building to the Imperial Palace. The
first building of the Tokyo station was built in 1914 as a model
of Western architecture and a symbol of a modernized Japan that
is not inferior to the advanced countries of the West.
In 1945,
the building was badly damaged by air raids. The restoration and
restoration of the building took many years, and in 2012 the
building was completely restored to its original form.
Currently, the new station building, adjacent to the old one, is
also functioning. It is the transportation heart of Tokyo. There
are 18 train tracks, 10 Shinkansen tracks, and an underground
subway station. Gyoko Street connects the old station building
with the gate to the Imperial Garden. This is the "face" of
Tokyo. It is along this street that foreign delegations and the
first persons of states visiting Tokyo on official visits pass,
Japanese ceremonies are also held here.