JAPANESE INVASION MONEY (1941 - 1945)

During the second world war, Japan occupied many countries in the Asia Pacific. In every country it occupied, Japan issued its own currency that looks like. Each currency is given a serial number prefix  the first letter is taken from the name of the occupied countries, such as:
M for Malaya,
P for the Philippines,
O for Oceania,
B for Burma (now Myanmar) and
S for Singapore and Indonesia


Banknotes in circulation during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines


A. The 1st Series. 1942.


1 Centavo

5 Centavos

10 Centavos

50 Centavos

1 Peso

5 Pesos

10 Pesos

B. The 2nd Series. 1943.

1 Peso

1 Peso with JAPAWANCAP Stamp

JAPAWANCAP (Japanese War Notes Claimants Association of The Philippines). The purpose of group is that they have wanted their JIM notes to be redeemed and replaced by actual currency during that time. To become a member, one should pay certain fees and in exchange would get a membership certificate, official ID  and deposit pass books. Sad to say, the Phillipines, US and Japanese government did not recognized the said group, thus their claims were rejected.

5 Pesos

10 Pesos











10 Peso with JAPAWANCAP Stamp

JAPAWANCAP (Japanese War Notes Claimants Association of The Philippines). The purpose of group is that they have wanted their JIM notes to be redeemed and replaced by actual currency during that time. To become a member, one should pay certain fees and in exchange would get a membership certificate, official ID and deposit pass books. Sad to say, the Phillipines, US and Japanese government did not recognized the said group, thus their claims were rejected.

100 Pesos

C. The 3rd Series (Last Series). 1944-1945.

500 Pesos

1000 Pesos

As inflation crept in, the Japanese printed banknotes in larger denominations. This bill is the last of the third series along with the 100 and 500 peso JIM. It was printed just before their surrender in 1945.

Due to dwindling resources, this banknote is smaller than the others and is printed on cheap paper, the reason why the blue ink at the front bleeds through the back.