Wallets packed with ¥1,000 notes along with ¥100 and ¥10 coins — Japanese people’s love for bills and coins has long been a hindrance to the creation of a cashless economy.
But with more people avoiding physical cash amid the COVID-19 pandemic, digital payments are becoming more popular in Japan, which has been embracing cashless options following a massive government-backed promotional campaign in the wake of a 2019 consumption tax hike.
The stay-at-home trend has also prompted more consumers to rely more on internet shopping, which usually requires cashless transactions.