Japan’s new yen notes are made using paper fibers sourced from the mitsumata shrub - locally known as Argeli - native to the Himalayan region of Nepal. Once abundant in Japan, Mitsumata farming declined due to urban migration and demographic challenges, prompting Japanese company Kanpou to partner with Nepali farmers to cultivate and process the shrub. The bark undergoes months of preparation before being shipped thousands of kilometers to Japan for printing. This collaboration has created a val