Japan
Japan adopted the Chinese currency system in the 8th century AD when Yamato
Empress Gemmei sent for Chinese artisans to cast coins in Japan. From the 10th to
the 16th century, the Japanese abandoned the practice of producing coins. Instead,
they sent metal to China for minting at the courts of the Yuan and Ming Emperors.
This was returned to Japan in the form of Chinese cast coinage. During this period,
silver ingots were widely used in Japan. Japanese mints did not locally produce
copper coins again until the 17th century.
Silver commemorative cash Wa-dō
kai-hō issued by Yamato Empress Gemmei (AD 707-715).
Copper cash Man-nen Tsū-hō issued
by Nara Emperor Junnin (AD 758-764).
Copper cash Ryū-hei ei-hō issued
by Heian Emperor Kammu (AD 782-806).
Silver stamped ingot of the Azuchi-Momoyama
period (AD 1573-1603).
Silver gin Tanuma Gomome of Edo
Empress Go-sakuramachi (AD 1762-1770).
Copper 4-sen Kwan-ei-tsu-ho of Go-Sakuramachi (AD 1762-1770). This
design depicts the Ni-Jiu-ichi-nami, or 21 waves, on the reverse. This variant was
very rare, issued only in 1768. Most Kwan-ei-tsu-ho have 11 on the reverse.