From today, there'll be quite a change-though only gradually-when people go shopping. New 1,000-yen, 5,000-yen and 10,000-yen bills are in circulation.

The Bank of Japan began distributing the bills to banks from 6 a.m today.

It is the first makeover for banknotes in 20 years.

The face of Hideyo Noguchi-a 20th century bacteriologist who first isolated the bacteria that causes syphilis-now graces the 1,000-yen note. He has replaced renowned author Natsume Soseki.

On the reverse, Mount Fuji, jumping down a denomination from the 5,000-yen note, is shown alongside cherry blossoms. The image replaces one of Japanese cranes.

For the first time in postwar Japan, a woman has made it on to the bills. Higuchi Ichiyo, a prominent novelist in the Meiji Era (1868-1912), takes the place of Inazo Nitobe, an educator and civil servant in the same period, on the 5,000-yen bill.

Kakitsubata, or rabbit-ear irises, drawn by Korin Ogata, replace the image of Mount Fuji on the reverse side.

On the 10,000-yen bill, Yukichi Fukuzawa, the founder of Keio University in Tokyo, retains his spot. However, on the reverse, a drawing of pheasants has been superseded by an image of a phoenix statue from Byodoin Temple in Uji, Kyoto Prefecture.

As well as new personalities, the bills also feature the latest in technology, including latent images and holograms to prevent counterfeiting.

Bank of Japan officials said in all, 5 billion new notes have been printed.(IHT/Asahi: November 1,2004)