Summer Eye’s Joy of Knowing
As his first name is written as “joy of knowing” (知幸), Summer Eye, aka Tomoyuki Natsume, visits experts in several fields. Summer Eye visits Nihonbashi’s Currency Museum for the first time of this series “Joy of Knowing “. He looked at the permanent exhibition “History of Japanese Coins” with the curator’s explanation.
INDEX
Can you exchange a radish with a synthesizer?
The first installment of “Let’s Go to the Currency Museum and Learn About Money!” It is.
People like money, don’t they? I’m already parting with my money! I’ll pretend I never met you! I’ll forget about you! Ugh! They seem to be so infatuated with money that even if they break up with it, they seem to get back together with it a few days later. I’m no longer bound to it even though I created it.
I wonder how did we end up like this? We hugged while looking at the night view. When I realized I had fallen asleep, and when I woke up in the morning, I still loved him. I can’t stay away. Money love. I can’t even keep my distance from you. But when I think about it, I don’t know anything about you. Where did you come from? Why are you there? I want to know more about you, that’s how I feel as I head towards Nihonbashi.
Enter the museum.
Without warning, the exhibition starts with the words, “Here is the oldest money!” Are we going to start from the point where we are already in a relationship? I asked the curator. I remember that in the textbooks, the love story started with the story that “before money, people bartered”. I asked. The curator replied, “We have not found any evidence of bartering in the history of mankind. In other words, there is no evidence for it, so we do not give any such explanation at our museum. Is that so?
It seems unlikely that any civilization would have left a statement such as “Mr. A and Mr. B bartered Mr. C and Mr. D.” If you ask me, I would say that there is no such statement in any civilization. Let’s imagine a little more. Let me put it in my own words. I have something you want, and you have something I want, and we both have something each other wants. But when it comes time to barter with each other, it can be very difficult.
If what I want is a Roland MC-202 (vintage synthesizer) and what you want is a radish, I’d have to give you the radish and other things! But you may not want anything but radishes. But I can’t just give up the MC-202 and say, “I’ll take that capotast in exchange for the radish.
What? Bartering is so hard, isn’t it? What a hassle. I’ll pay for your MC-202, and you can go to the grocery store and buy daikon radishes. That’s the best! That’s what you’re saying, isn’t it, Mr. Curator?
That’s really what I mean. There is no historical data on barter, but there are records that before money was created, people used things that were easy to find common value as money. In Japan, it is rice and cloth,” said the curator.
I see. The first two are strong in terms of food, clothing, and shelter. But rice and cloth will go bad someday, and they are also bulky. Also, they are bulky. So I guess that is why they were replaced by coins and paper money, which do not spoil and are not bulky.
INDEX
I am much freer if you don’t weigh a lot in my life
However, it did not work out that way immediately, and money has been trusted slowly over time. The exhibition provided visitors with a glimpse into this history.
One of the most surprising things was that no official money was created in Japan for 600 years after the issuance of copper coins was discontinued in the middle of the Heian period! They used coins that came from China or were minted privately instead. For quite a long time, there was no official government money. For quite a long time, there was no official national money, and only unofficial money was exchanged.
Or maybe they used rice or something else as a common value instead of money. Sounds fun. It sounds like a hassle, but I thought it was kind of fun. Probably because I feel that money is too powerful in today’s world. If I could live in a world without your shadow, maybe I would be freer.
It seems that the reason money was not created for 600 years is that no government had the power, credit, and technology to issue money. The reason we are able to enjoy a honeymoon with money now is because our society has matured and the system of a country is stable. Conversely, when we have to part with money, it may be when the country collapses.
Even if you want to say goodbye to money, it is useless to say, “I hate it! It is useless to say, “I hate you already! The only way is to destroy this society and country. That is indeed a hassle. You are really annoying, but we just have to get along with you. I’m going to make an effort.
INDEX
“Money-related playlist” with music selected by Summer Eye
Release Information
Summer Eye
『Daikichi』
Upcoming Events
『Summer Eye 1st Japan Tour “Daisuki” 』
Venue: Shimokitazawa 440, Tokyo
Saturday, June 3, 2023
June 4, 2023 (Sun)
OPEN 18:00 / START 18:30
Venue：Nagoya Kanayama Brazil Coffee
June 18, 2023 (Sun)
OPEN 18:00 / START 18:30
Venue：Kobe Shioya Former Guggenheim House
July 9, 2023 (Sun)
OPEN 18:30 / START 19:00
Information
The Currency Museum of the Bank of Japan
Address: Bank of Japan Annex, 1-3-1 Nihonbashi Hongokucho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 9:30 – 16:30 (Admission until 16:00)
Closed: Mondays (open on national holidays)
Admission: Free
