Silver Price in Japanese Yen (JPY)

The silver price in Japanese yen has risen sharply due to a combination of two factors: the rising US dollar silver spot price and the significant depreciation of the yen against the US dollar. Since 2020, the yen has weakened from around 105 to over 150 per dollar at times, meaning even a modest increase in the USD silver price translates into a much larger gain when converted to yen. This double effect has made silver one of the best-performing assets for Japanese investors in recent years.

Japan is one of the world's largest industrial consumers of silver. The electronics sector uses silver extensively in circuit boards, connectors, and semiconductor packaging. Japan's rapidly expanding solar energy industry requires silver paste for photovoltaic cell manufacturing. The automotive sector, particularly the shift toward electric and hybrid vehicles, uses silver in electrical contacts, sensors, and battery management systems. Japan's advanced manufacturing base ensures consistent and growing demand for industrial silver.

Silver in Japan is taxed under the same framework as gold. Profits from the sale of physical silver are classified as capital gains and are subject to income tax. For silver held longer than 5 years, individuals receive a 50% deduction on the taxable gain, providing a significant incentive for long-term holding. There is also an annual exemption of 500,000 yen on gains from precious metals. Consumption tax (currently 10%) applies at the time of purchase but is also received back upon sale to a dealer.

Silver can be purchased in Japan through several channels. TOCOM (Tokyo Commodity Exchange, now part of JPX) offers yen-denominated silver futures contracts for trading and hedging. Tanaka Kikinzoku (Tanaka Precious Metals) is Japan's largest precious metals retailer and offers silver bars, coins, and accumulation plans. Major banks and securities firms also offer silver-related investment products. Online dealers have become increasingly popular, and international coins like the Silver Maple Leaf and Silver Eagle are widely available through authorized distributors.