Is Japan Finally Going Cashless? The Pros and Cons

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1. 01Is Japan Finally Going Cashless?

   Good afternoon, everyone. Japan has long been known as a country that loves cash. But when I visited my grandmother in Fukuoka last year, even she paid for her groceries with her phone. Today, I'll look at how fast Japan is going cashless, and the pros and cons.

   大家下午好。日本一直以来都被认为是一个热爱现金的国家。但是去年我去福冈看望奶奶时，连她买菜都是用手机付款。今天，我想看看日本无现金化的速度有多快，以及它的利与弊。

2. 02The Numbers

   According to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, cashless payments made up forty-two point eight percent of consumer spending in 2024. That passed the government's goal of around forty percent.

   根据经济产业省的数据，2024年，无现金支付占消费者支出的百分之四十二点八。这超过了政府设定的大约百分之四十的目标。

   Source: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), "2024 Ratio of Cashless Payment Among the Total Amount Paid by Consumers" (March 2025)

3. 03How People Pay

   Most of it is still credit cards, about eighty-three percent of cashless payments. QR code payments on smartphones are around ten percent, followed by electronic money and debit cards.

   其中大部分仍然是信用卡，约占无现金支付的百分之八十三。智能手机上的二维码支付约占百分之十，其次是电子货币和借记卡。

   Source: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), "2024 Ratio of Cashless Payment Among the Total Amount Paid by Consumers" (March 2025)

4. 04Pro: Convenience and Speed

   The advantages are easy to see. Paying with a card or phone is faster, there's no heavy coin purse, and visitors from abroad don't need to carry large amounts of yen.

   好处显而易见。用卡或手机付款更快，不用带沉甸甸的零钱包，外国游客也不需要携带大量日元。

5. 05Pro: Help for Small Shops

   Cashless payments can also help shops. Staff spend less time counting cash at night, and sales records are created automatically, which helps shops with only a few staff.

   无现金支付也能帮助店铺。店员晚上花在清点现金上的时间更少了，销售记录也会自动生成，这对人手很少的店铺很有帮助。

6. 06Con: Not Everyone Can Keep Up

   However, there are real concerns. Some older people find apps confusing and prefer cash. Small shops pay fees on every card payment. And in an earthquake or power outage, cash may be the only thing that works.

   不过，也确实存在一些担忧。有些老年人觉得应用程序很难用，更喜欢用现金。小店每一笔刷卡交易都要支付手续费。而且一旦发生地震或停电，现金可能是唯一能用的东西。

7. 07Finding the Balance

   In my view, the goal shouldn't be a completely cashless Japan. Shops should keep accepting cash, communities could offer simple classes on payment apps, and families should keep a little cash at home for emergencies.

   在我看来，目标不应该是让日本完全无现金化。店铺应该继续接受现金，社区可以开设简单的支付应用课程，家庭也应该在家里留一点现金以备紧急情况。

8. 08Conclusion

   To conclude, Japan is changing faster than many people expected. The challenge now is to enjoy the convenience without leaving anyone behind. Thank you.

   最后，日本的变化比很多人预想的都要快。现在的挑战是，在享受便利的同时，不让任何一个人掉队。谢谢大家。