Cash Is Still King, But Japan’s Going More Digital

June 12, 2025 at 11:14 AM EDT

Expo 2025 Osaka’s cashless payment system reflects global trends in digital finance, underscoring Japan’s gradual shift toward a more digitally driven consumer economy.

Mobile payment is easy to operate and does not require cash or change. It helps speed up the transaction process, reduces contact risks, and enhances the overall shopping experience. (Photo via Pixabay.com)

LOS ANGELES, CA (MERXWIRE) – You won’t need a wallet, just a smartphone to explore Expo 2025 Osaka. This world-class event, returning to Japan after a two-decade hiatus, is expected to attract over 28 million visitors from around the globe. At the Yumeshima venue, guests will experience the convergence of technology, culture, and sustainability. Unlike past expos, this year’s event will operate entirely cashless. From admission tickets and beverages to souvenirs, all transactions will be handled via mobile payments or credit cards—highlighting a quiet transformation in Japan’s consumer habits.

The benefits of digital payments are already widely evident worldwide. For consumers, mobile payments offer convenience, eliminating the need to carry cash or make changes. This streamlines transactions reduces physical contact risks and enhances the overall shopping experience. For businesses and government agencies, digital transactions leave traceable records that aid in financial management, tax auditing, and market analysis while also contributing to effective policymaking and economic governance.

However, the adoption of digital payments in Japan still faces significant challenges. According to data from Statista, as of the end of 2024, only about 43% of Japanese smartphone users regularly use mobile wallets for payments. Furthermore, PaymentsCMI projects that while Japan’s overall cashless payment rate is expected to rise to 36% by 2025, it still lags behind countries such as South Korea (nearly 90%), China (over 80%), and the UK (around 70%). This slower adoption is partly due to Japan’s ageing population and its lower comfort level with digital tools. Moreover, many small businesses and consumers continue to prefer cash transactions, which are perceived as safe, familiar, and easily controllable.

In contrast, the global mobile payment market is experiencing rapid expansion. By 2025, the total value of global mobile payments is projected to reach USD 10.4 trillion, with estimates suggesting it will exceed USD 17 trillion by 2029. Astute Analytica forecasts the digital payment market will grow to USD 71.2 trillion by 2033, reinforcing the role of digital payments as a key infrastructure in the global economy. Countries such as China have widely adopted QR code scanning systems, while mobile wallet use in U.S. retail environments continues to grow annually. Europe and Southeast Asia are also advancing integration across sectors to create more accessible digital transaction networks.

The full cashless policy of Expo 2025 can be seen as both a testing ground and a reflection of evolving payment behaviour in Japan. The initiative not only tests the operational capacity of payment systems in large-scale international events but also encourages public awareness and hands-on engagement with digital payment methods.

The total value of global mobile payments is estimated to reach US$10.4 trillion by 2025 and is expected to exceed US$ 17 trillion by 2029. Digital payments are quietly changing our consumption habits. (Photo via Pixabay.com)

As technologies such as 5G, the Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence continue to evolve, future payment systems are expected to become more intelligent and diverse. The implementation of an entirely cashless system at Expo 2025 may not only redefine how such events are managed but could also mark a pivotal moment for Japan’s digital economic shift—paving the way for digitalization in logistics, healthcare, tourism, and beyond, and contributing to the development of a more modernized economic framework.

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Cash Is Still King, But Japan’s Going More Digital

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