Angle down icon An icon within the form of an angle pointing down. Japan’s new banknotes could not work in some merchandising machines. SOPA Photos/Getty Photos Japan is a society that is nonetheless in love with money — and merchandising machines.The nation started issuing new banknotes this week and an issue has already cropped up.Nearly 80% of Japan’s merchandising machines will not be capable to settle for the brand new notes. In some ways Japan is a rustic that is firmly embraced know-how, but it stays connected to good old school money.Loads of locals and vacationers wave their bank cards within the outlets scattered alongside the Zelkova-lined avenue of Tokyo’s Omotesando and the boutique procuring district of Ginza, however money continues to be king in a number of different places.Gap-in-the-wall izakayas (conventional bars), ryokan (conventional inns), and Shinto shrines usually settle for money solely. Certain, city areas like Tokyo and the Kansai area’s Osaka are card-friendly, however carrying bodily yen is really useful when venturing past main cities.However those that need to use a merchandising machine in Japan could need to double-check the kind of payments of their wallets. For the primary time in 20 years, Japan began issuing new banknotes this week in an effort to fight counterfeit cash. The one drawback is that they may not be accepted in all places. Japan has issued new banknotes. STR/Getty Photos Take Japan’s tens of millions of merchandising machines. They’re huge enterprise, providing every part from scorching espresso and beer to wagyu and scorching sauce. Although some settle for card funds, people who take money could not settle for Japan’s new banknotes.The Japan Merchandising Machine Producers Affiliation lately stated that just about 80% of the nation’s machines would wish upgrades to simply accept the brand new notes, Reuters reported. Many restaurant and parking-ticket machines would additionally want an replace.The problem is that Japan’s retro machines aren’t designed to course of the brand new notes, which have high-tech specs integrated to assist decide authenticity. They embody portraits of historic figures as 3D holograms — a world-first, in keeping with the Financial institution of Japan — designed to rotate when a word is tilted. Getting Japan’s aged machines prepared for these new notes will now take time — and cash. Merchandising machines are a typical sight in Japan. SOPA Photos/Getty Photos In April, the Financial institution of Japan stated that regardless of the expansion in cashless funds, it expects “the demand for money, which may be readily utilized by anybody, wherever, and at any time,” will proceed to play a major function within the economic system.The banknote points come at a peculiar time. Vacationers have been flocking to Japan this yr to reap the benefits of a weak yen, which hit a 38-year low in opposition to the US greenback this week.Journey guides usually inform vacationers to hold money. In the event that they’re stopping by a merchandising machine there anytime quickly, they might need to test first if their payments will work.