币界网报道：According to the CoinWorld Daily, officials from the Bank of Japan are stepping up their calls to push Japan to keep up with the rapid development of digital currencies, which may accelerate the transition to cashless payments in Japan, where "cash is king". Japanese government data show that the proportion of cashless payments in the country will rise to 42.8% in 2024 from 13.2% in 2010, exceeding the government's target of 40% a year ahead of schedule. Although Japan lags behind the world in payment technology, the increase in cashless transactions is forcing policymakers to ensure that they are ready to adapt to changes in public preferences for payment and settlement methods. This includes the issuance of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). "Although Japan's banknote issuance remains high, the use of banknotes may drop significantly in the future as digitalization develops rapidly," said Kazushige Kamiyama, executive director of the Bank of Japan. "Japan must therefore consider what steps it can take now to ensure that its retail settlement system is convenient, efficient, and universally available, yet secure and resilient." Bank of Japan Deputy Governor Shinichi Uchida said CBDC could become a "key component of infrastructure" shaping the future of Japan's payment and settlement systems, but stressed that he does not expect Japan's demand for cash to disappear in the short term.