Japan Mint, Currency production facility in Kita-ku, Osaka, Japan
The Japan Mint is a government coin production facility in Kita-ku, Osaka, that has manufactured circulation coins for the country since the 19th century. The site includes production halls with specialized machines for metal processing, stamping, and quality control.
The facility was established in 1871 under the Meiji government to introduce a unified coin system based on Western models. It replaced the many different local currencies of the Edo period with standardized yen coins made of copper, silver, and gold.
The name comes from the Meiji era, when the government founded the country's first modern coin production center. Today visitors can walk through gardens with more than a hundred old cherry trees that bloom along a public path in spring.
Tours through the production areas take place on weekdays and require advance registration through the facility's website. The visit lasts about an hour and includes a walk through selected areas with explanations of the manufacturing process.
Besides circulation coins, the facility also produces official orders and commemorative medals for the Japanese government. The technique combines hand engraving traditions with computer-controlled stamping tools for fine details.
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