With preparations underway for the new banknotes to be issued on July 3, the land of 'Shibusawa Eiichi', the face of the new 10,000 yen bill, is already immersed in a festive atmosphere.

The new banknote issuance, the first in 20 years, is expected to generate an economic impact of 1.63 trillion yen.

A 30-year-old man from Fukaya City said, "This is the first time I've seen an event like this, and I'm happy to see the city revitalized." Fumino Tosaka, chief of the Fukaya City Culture Promotion Division, said, "We're seeing quite a lot of visitors. We're truly delighted with the overwhelming turnout, exceeding our expectations." She added, "We're really looking forward to July 3. It feels like it's just around the corner."

Roadside rest stops are now stocked with 136 different Shibusawa-related products. It's as if there's a Shibusawa fever fueled by the 10,000 yen bill.

Meanwhile, 'OKI', a manufacturer of ATMs and other equipment, has been operating its factory at full capacity since January of this year. Maiko Sugimoto from OKI's Public Relations Department said, "In addition to ATMs, we also manufacture cash handling machines and change machines for shopping malls and other businesses. Our production volume has nearly doubled compared to last year." The factory is scheduled to continue operating at full capacity until March of next year.

A taxi company in Tokyo's Suginami Ward has ordered new 'payment machines' to accommodate the new banknotes. Miyuki Yokota, director of Aoi Transportation, said, "We ordered them in mid-January, and they were scheduled to arrive after the Golden Week holiday in early May. However, the delivery was delayed, and they didn't arrive until mid-June. They've only been here for a short time." In addition to the payment machine, they also invested 4 million yen in currency exchange machines. Miyuki Yokota said, "The cost is definitely significant."

Meanwhile, there are stores that have undergone significant changes. A ramen shop in Kitana-goya, Aichi Prefecture, has eliminated its ticket machines and introduced cashless payments. One reason for this is cost. Tatsuma Takai, managing director of NUK Corporation, said, "If we had to replace the ticket machines, our company's machines weren't that old. The total cost would have been around 150,000 yen." Customers can now order and pay using their smartphones. Tatsuma Takai said, "I believe customers will find it more convenient to order. I think this was a major factor (in replacing the ticket machines)." This new banknote introduction could significantly advance the cashless trend.

Just as ticket machines have disappeared from ramen shops, fare boxes worth 2 million yen are also expected to disappear from buses. JR Tokai Bus plans to eliminate fare boxes on most of its express buses starting next month and transition to cashless payments. If cash is used, drivers will collect it directly. If cashless payments become mainstream, this might be the last time the 'new banknotes' become a major topic.