The Japan Mint strikes commemorative issues of the 500 yen coin with distinct designs from the circulating currency. These coins are intended for collectors only and were never issued for circulation.

Early commemorative coins minted under the Shōwa era have their dates of reign written in kanji script. This practice was later replaced by adding Arabic numerals to reflect the current Emperor's year of reign.

Composition Years Material 1985–1999 75% copper, 25% nickel(Cupronickel) 2002–2009 72% copper, 20% zinc, 8% nickel(Nickel-brass) 2008–present 75% copper, 12.5% zinc, 12.5% nickel(Bi-metallic)

1985–1999 (Cupronickel)

Image Japanese date Gregorian date Mintage Reason 六十 (60)Shōwa 1985 70,000,000 Tsukuba Exposition '85 Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20. 六十 (60)Shōwa 1985 70,000,000 Centennial of the Foundation of the Cabinet System Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20. 六十一 (61)Shōwa 1986 50,000,000 Hirohito's 60th year of reign Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20. 六十二 (62)Shōwa 1987 01 Unknown Hirohito's 60th year of reign 63Shōwa 1988 20,000,000 Opening of Seto Bridge 63Shōwa 1988 20,000,000 Opening of Seikan Tunnel (1988) Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20. 2Heisei 1990 30,000,000 Enthronement of Emperor Akihito Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20. 四 (4)Heisei 1992 19,950,000(50,000) 020 20th anniversary of the reversion of Okinawa to Japan Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20. 五 (5)Heisei 1993 29,800,000(200,000) Wedding of Crown Prince Naruhito Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20. 6Heisei 1994 19,900,000(100,000) Opening of Kansai International Airport Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20. 6Heisei 1994 09 9,900,000(100,000) 1994 Asian Games - Running Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20. 6Heisei 1994 09 9,900,000(100,000) 1994 Asian Games - Swimming Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20. 6Heisei 1994 09 9,900,000(100,000) 1994 Asian Games - Jumping Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20. 9Heisei 1997 19,867,000(133,000) Nagano Olympics (Snowboarding) Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20. 9Heisei 1997 19,867,000(133,000) Nagano Olympics (Bobsledding) Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20. 10Heisei 1998 19,867,000(133,000) Nagano Olympics (Acrobatic Skier) Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20. 11Heisei 1999 14,900,000(Unknown) 010 10th anniversary of the enthronement of Akihito Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.

2002–2009 (Nickel-brass) Image Japanese date Gregorian date Mintage Reason 14Heisei 2002 10,000,000 2002 FIFA World Cup - (Europe & Africa) Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20. 14Heisei 2002 10,000,000 2002 FIFA World Cup - (Asia & Oceania) Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20. 14Heisei 2002 10,000,000 2002 FIFA World Cup - (North & South America) Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20. 17Heisei 2005 08 8,241,000 EXPO 2005 AICHI JAPAN Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20. 17Heisei 2005 03 50,000(Silver) Opening of Chūbu Centrair International Airport Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20. 19Heisei 2007 06 6,600,000 50th anniversary of the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20. 20Heisei 2008 04 4,800,000 Centenary of Japanese Immigration to Brazil - Japan-Brazil Year of Exchange Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20. 21Heisei 2009 09 9,950,000 020 20th anniversary of the enthronement of Akihito Japan Mint. Retrieved 2012-07-20.

2008–2016 60th Anniversary of Enforcement of the Local Autonomy Law

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). This program ran until 2016, concluding with the final issues for Tokyo and Fukushima.

Japanese date Gregorian date Prefecture Mintage Elements depicted 20 2008 Hokkaido 2,100,000 Lake Toya and the former Hokkaido government office building Kyoto 2,050,000 Scene 2 from Chapter 49 of The Tale of Genji Shimane 1,970,000 Dōtaku discovered from the Kamoiwakura Remains in Unnan City 21 2009 Nagano 1,830,000 Zenkoji Temple and an Ox (Bodhisattva of Mercy) Niigata 1,840,000 Pair of Japanese Crested Ibises and Rice Terrace Ibaraki 1,870,000 Kairakuen Garden and Japanese Apricot Tree Nara 1,800,000 Kentoshi-sen (ships used for royal envoys to China during the Tang dynasty) 22 2010 Kochi 1,960,000 Bust of Sakamoto Ryōma (born in Kōchi) Gifu 1,860,000 Shirakawa-go and Chinese milk vetch Fukui 1,830,000 Fukuiraptor and Fukuisaurus (discovered in the prefecture) Aichi 1,950,000 Aichi Prefectural Government Office and rabbit-ear iris Aomori 1,900,000 Sannai-Maruyama Site and Clay Figurine Saga 1,910,000 Ōkuma Shigenobu, and his associated craft Saga Nishiki 23 2011 Toyama 1,800,000 Owara Kaze-no-bon Festival Tottori 1,770,000 Sanbutsu-ji Temple (The Nageire Hall) Kumamoto 1,870,000 Kumamoto Castle Shiga 1,770,000 Biwa Catfish and Round Crucian Carp Iwate 1,790,000 Kyokusui-no-en (Water Poetry Party) at Mōtsū-ji temple Akita 1,740,000 Nobu Shirase and the Akita Kantō festival 24 2012 Okinawa 1,760,000 Naha Tug-of-war and Eisa Folk dance Kanagawa 1,890,000 Daibutsu (Great Buddha) of Kamakura Miyazaki 1,740,000 Miyazaki Prefectural Government - Main Building Tochigi 1,800,000 Nemuri-neko (Sleeping cat) and Sparrows (sculptures) Oita 1,790,000 Usuki Stone Buddha Hyōgo 1,800,000 Pair of Oriental storks 25 2013 Miyagi 1,700,000 Sendai Tanabata Festival Hiroshima 1,700,000 Atomic Bomb Dome and Memorial Park Gunma 1,720,000 Keystone, and a female worker from the Tomioka Silk Mill Okayama 1,660,000 Okayama Korakuen Garden Shizuoka 1,700,000 Mount Fuji and a tea plantation Yamanashi 1,670,000 Mount Fuji and grapes Kagoshima 1,660,000 Mount Sakurajima 26 2014 Ehime 1,650,000 Nishiseto Expressway and the islands of Ehime Yamagata 1,660,000 Jōmon Dogū (prehistoric goddess figure) Mie 1,670,000 Kumano Kodō Iseji Kagawa 1,630,000 Scenery of Sanuki as viewed from Kotohira-gū shrine Saitama 1,780,000 Saitama Stadium 2002 Ishikawa 1,660,000 Mount Haku as seen from Kibagata Park and the Abare Festival 27 2015 Yamaguchi 1,610,000 Five-story pagoda of Ruriko-ji Temple Tokushima 1,630,000 Awa Dance Festival Fukuoka 1,680,000 Kyushu National Museum, Dazaifu Tenmangū Shrine, and Plum Blossoms Wakayama 1,610,000 Nachi Falls Osaka 1,700,000 Burial mound of Emperor Nintoku Nagasaki 1,600,000 Oura Cathedral and a stained glass rose window Chiba 1,680,000 Kujūkuri Beach 28 2016 Fukushima 1,620,000 Sōma's Nomaoi Festival Tokyo 1,720,000 Tokyo Station (Marunouchi Building)

2017–present

Image Japanese date Gregorian date Mintage Reason 31Heisei 2019 5,000,000 30th anniversary of the enthronement of AkihitoCommemorative Coins for the 30th Anniversary of the Enthronement of His Majesty the Emperor Ministry of Finance, Japan (www.mof.go.jp). Retrieved on 2018-08-08. 元 (1)Reiwa 2019 5,000,000 Enthronement of Emperor Naruhito to the Chrysanthemum Throne天皇陛下御即位記念五百円バイカラー・クラッド貨幣の図柄 Ministry of Finance, Japan (www.mof.go.jp). Retrieved on 2019-05-10.Design of the 500-yen Commemorative Bicolor Clad Coin for the Enthronement of His Majesty the Emperor Ministry of Finance, Japan (www.mof.go.jp). Retrieved on 2019-05-13. 2Reiwa 2020 4,000,000 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics: RaijinJapan: Designs for Olympic-themed 500-yen commemorative coins unveiled Coin Update (news.coinupdate.com). Retrieved on 2019-08-02. 2020 4,000,000 2020 Tokyo Summer Paralympics: Fujin 7Reiwa 2025 Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai

Notes

References

External links Commemorative coins issued - Japan Mint website (In English)