NATIONAL PARKS OF JAPAN 100TH ANNIVERSARY (2024-2031) by Japan Mint

Iriomote-Ishigaki is predominantly based around the Ryukyu Islands, and is Japan’s southernmost national park. Because of its island nature, there are several species of fauna that are found nowhere else, most famously the Iriomote Cat, and the Sakishima Grass Lizard. The area is known for its extensive mangrove swamps, and highly diverse wildlife, especially around the coral reefs.

Keramashoto is a small group of over 30 mountainous, forested islets, located around 40 km west of Naha City. The sea around them is teeming with life, located as it is, in a region replete with coral reefs, and the national park area of it covers 90,475 hectares. Many endangered species inhabit the islands, like the Ryukyu Flying Fox, and the Japanese Black-breasted Leaf Turtle. The species on the coin is a Green Turtle, however.

Yambaru is located in the northern part of Okinawa, and is one of the most biodiverse area of Japan. Although the region comprises less than 0.1% of Japan’s total area, around 50% of all the bird species in the country can be found here, including some endemic, like the Okinawa woodpecker, and the subject of the coin, the Okinawa Rail. Amphibians and insects are equally over-represented. Yambara is one of the few heavily forested areas in its subtropical latitude around the world, where arid or desert environments usually occur.

Setonaikai is the largest national park of the 35 in Japan, and also in the first three to be given that designation, back in 1934. Based around the inland Setonaikai Sea, it exceeds 900,000 hectares overall, and has a huge range of sealife. Amongst them are the subject of the coin, the Horseshoe Crab, described by some as a living fossil, and the Finless Porpoise. The area has a rich cultural history.

Another of the initial three areas to be designated national parks, Unzen-Amakasu was centred around Mount Unzen, an active stratovolcano, that last erupted in 1991, setting off a pyroclastic flow (similar to the one that obliterated Pompeii), killing 43 people. These eruptions continued until 1995. In 1956, the Amakasu area was added to the park, which was an archipelago incorporating around 120 islands. The seas teem with corals, and despite the volcanic activity, the land is diverse. The coin depicts rime ice, and an Oyama Magnolia.

The third of the three initial parks, Kirishima-Kinkowan is comprised of Kirishima, a heavily volcanic area with crater lakes, fumarole phenomena, hot springs, and plateaus all created through volcanic activity. Despite that, it has extensive vegetation. The other part, Kinkowan, is also actively volcanic. Both have heavy rainfall, often as high as 4,000 mm annually. The marine ecosystem is also very diverse, fed by the Kuroshio Current, and featuring coral reefs. The coin depicts Cape Sata in the background, with a Field Crabapple in the foreground. The spear-like monument is called Amanosakahoko, which is mounted on the crest of Mt. Takachiho in Kirishima.