♭♯♭ こころ模様 ♭♯♭

The excellence of Japanese banknotes is widely known around the world. This is due to their state-of-the-art counterfeit prevention technology, boasting the highest global standards, as well as the superior quality of the paper, which is produced from the bark of the Mitsumata tree. In 1875 (Meiji 8), banknotes were first made using Mitsumata as the raw material at the Government Printing Bureau. Since then, the use of Mitsumata has increased significantly, being widely utilized not only for banknotes but also for various types of paper such as certificates, map paper, and copy paper. Mitsumata is native to central and southern China as well as the Himalayan region, and it is believed to have been introduced to Japan in the early Edo period. However, there are conflicting theories, with some suggesting that it was brought to Japan even before the Manyoshu period. There is an ancient belief that the Mitsumata is referred to as “sakiku” in a poem by Kakinomoto no Hitomaro, “When spring comes, if the sakikusa blooms first, there may be a chance to meet later. Do not suffer in love, my dear lady.” It has long been believed that the Mitsumata is referred to as “sakikusa” in this poem. Papermaking technology is said to have been introduced to Japan around the 7th century, and Mitsumata, along with kozo (paper mulberry), is likely to have been one of the raw materials brought in. In the precincts of Tenryu-ji Temple in Arashiyama, Kyoto, Mitsumata trees always bloom with three flowers at the tip of each branch.

日本の紙幣の優秀さは世界でも広く知られています。その偽造防止技術は世界最高水準を誇り、高度な印刷技術が施されていることと紙の優秀さからです。その紙の原料になっているのがミツマタ(三叉)です。1875年（明治８年）に、 政府印刷局でミツマタを原料として 初めて紙幣が作られました。 それ以来、ミツマタの利用度が高くなり、紙幣以外でも、 証書、地図用紙、コピー紙など 各種の紙とその原料として 幅広く使われています。原産地は 中国中南部、ヒマラヤ地方で、江戸時代初期に渡来した とされています。しかしこれには異説があり，すでに万葉集以前に持ち込まれていたとも言われています。柿本人麻呂の歌に「春されば まづ三枝(さきくさ)の幸くあらば後にも逢はむな恋ひそ吾妹」(大意;春になると真っ先に咲く三枝のようにさきく（無事で）いたら、後に逢うこともあろう。恋に苦しむな吾妹よ。)と言うのがありますが、この中の「さきくさ」の名で 歌われているのがミツマタであるとの説が古くからあります。日本に製紙技術が入ってきたのは７世紀頃と言われていますが、その原料としてコウゾ(楮)だけでなく、ミツマタも持ち込まれた可能性が大きいからです。京都嵐山の天龍寺境内には、各枝先に必ず３つミツマタが花を咲かせています。