The E-Sylum:  Volume 7, Number 46, November 14, 2004, Article 10

JAPAN'S FIRST FORMAL PORTRAIT OF A WOMAN

  Writing in response to our excerpts from a November 2
  New York Times article, Joe Boling writes:
  "The New York Times is showing its ignorance again,
  parroting the statement that has also appeared in other
  sources that the new Japanese banknotes feature the
  "first formal portrait of a woman on a Japanese bank
  note." Few numismatists are unaware of the so-called
  "princess" notes of the 1880s, which bore a VERY formal
  portrait of the Empress Regent Jingu (170-269). That
  same resolute woman appears in warrior garb on the
  back of the ten yen note of 1873.

  In addition, there have been scattered women in scenes
  on other notes. More recently, on the back of the
  current 2000 yen note is a small portrait of Murasaki
  Shikibu (978-1015?), most famously known as the author
  of the Genji Monogatari (and many other prominent
  works).

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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