10 000 Yen - Heisei World Cup

Issued to mark Japan and South Korea's joint hosting of the 2002 FIFA World Cup — the first tournament held in Asia and the first with co-hosts — this gold piece was part of a broader commemorative program that included silver and clad issues across multiple releases tied to specific match venues and tournament phases. Japan's commemorative coin law required separate legislative authorization for each program, and the World Cup series moved through that process with unusual speed given the diplomatic significance of the co-hosting arrangement with South Korea.