JNDA# 07-25
| Material | Silver |
| Composition | Pure Silver |
| Weight | 31.1grams=1.09oz |
| Diameter | 40mm=1.57in |
| Year of Production | 2012(Heisei 24 year) |
These silver coins were issued to commemorate the enforcement of Japan’s Local Autonomy Law.
Each of the 47 prefectures has its own unique design.
Hyogo Prefecture coins feature the stork, a Special Natural Monument, and Himeji Castle, a National Treasure.
Stork
Belonging to the stork family, adult birds reach a total length of about 115 centimeters, with some having a wingspan of approximately 2 meters. Although the Japanese population became extinct in 1986, breeding in captivity succeeded in Hyogo Prefecture using a pair transferred from Russia in 1985. By the end of 2011, the population had grown to approximately 150 birds. Furthermore, since 2005, efforts to reintroduce storks to the wild have been implemented, including trial releases, and breeding in the wild is progressing steadily.
Himeji Castle
Its origins are said to date back to 1346 when it was built by the Akamatsu clan. Hideyoshi Hashiba entered the castle and rebuilt it in 1580.
After the Battle of Sekigahara, Terumasa Ikeda entered the castle in 1600. Starting the following year, he undertook extensive renovations over nine years, resulting in the castle’s current form. Many structures from that period, including the main keep, turrets, and gates, remain. Designated a National Treasure in 1951, it was registered as Japan’s first World Cultural Heritage site in 1993, alongside the Buddhist Monuments in the Horyuji Area.
