1000 yen coin

Starting in 2008, a program similar to the American 50 State Quarters was put into place which honors all 47 of Japan's prefectures.

This was done by celebrating the 60th Anniversary of Enforcement of the Local Autonomy Law in the form of 47 different commemorative coins (designs on obverse side).

The Japanese dates used for the coins appears in Arabic numerals to reflect former emperor Akihito's (Heisei) year of reign.

Many of the designs are cultural in nature and depict elements such as shrines, flora/fauna, and historical figures.

Seven issues ran concurrently with the program, including a series that was launched in 2015 as a response to the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami.

Various obverse designs have been used for the different prefectures ( Hokkaido shown here)
Reverse design for the Local Autonomy Law series