
They say the most expressive part of your face is the eyes. The rest of the face might be saying “happy times”, but if you focus on the eyes, you might see “sad times,” or vice versa.
Purikura machines, or sticker picture machines, have long had an eye enhancement option, so it only makes sense for an application on your phone to have one as well. Many of them can even be used on everyday objects that have people’s faces on them, like the money resting in your wallet. But how do the respected and historical figures on cash look when you manipulate the size of their eyes? Is some secret emotion going to be revealed? Let’s find out after the jump.
We’ve all seen the impact that overly large eyes have on people. Often times it makes for a disturbing alien-like appearance, but perhaps what is even scarier is shrunken, teeny tiny eyes! The shape and size of the eyes will completely change the look of someone’s face, extreme cases often come with hilarious results. Let’s give it a go on some of the most esteemed figures of our past.
Starting with the revered Japanese yen, the 1,000-yen note, the 5,000-yen note, and the 10,000-yen note all have historical figures on them. Yukichi Fukuzawa…it’s time for your close-up.
▼ 10,000-yen note featuring Yukichi Fukuzawa
Known as one of the most persuasive and influential people in Japan, his powers are magnified by his big eyes and that same power completely disappears when they become really small.
▼ 5,000-yen note featuring Ichiyo Higuchi
Ichiyo Higuchi fairs no better as the size of her eyes plays havoc with her regal look.
▼ 1,000-yen note featuring Hideo Noguchi
Hideo Noguchi’s intelligent look is taken for a loop with some simple eye changes. Although his small-eyed version doesn’t seem to change his feel too much, the new proportions make him look very confused.
Why are we limiting ourselves to just Japanese money? There are plenty of other interesting people we can manipulate with these apps. How about we try this with the US dollar, Korean won, and South African rand?
▼ US one-dollar note featuring George Washington
George Washington makes a huge transformation with big eyes and they turn him into what can only be described as frog-like and very un-presidential.
▼ Five-dollar note featuring Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln looks like he’s ready to appear in the next Love Live! anime with his big eyes, while his small eyed version looks like he is laser-focused and ready to solve all of America’s problems.
▼ 20-dollar note featuring Andrew Jackson
President Andrew Jackson looks like he is about to unhinge his jaw and devour you with his creepy large eyes. On the other hand, his small-eyed version makes it seem like he’s thinking really critically about something, like say the succession of South Carolina.
▼ 100-dollar note featuring Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin looks exactly how you would imagine he would in the story of how he confirmed electricity, eyes bugging out as electrical current runs through his body! His tiny-eyed version just makes him look older and more discerning. Actually, all the American figures look older and wiser with the smaller eyes.
▼ 1,000-won note featuring Yi Hwang
Yi Hwang graces the 1,000-won note in South Korea. He is one of the most prominent Korean Confucian scholars of the Joseon Dynasty, although his large-eyed version makes it seem like he’s a bit dazed and confused. You probably don’t want to be questioning the small eyed version, as it looks like he’s about to drop some Grade A knowledge on us.
▼ 5,000-won note featuring Yi I
The large eyes keep looking like they are out to hypnotize us all, as Yi I is here to teach us more of the Confucian ways. Not only was he a scholar, but he was also a famed politician and a reformer. But his small-eyed version makes him look kind of sad, like he is regretting his decision to participate in this eye-changing madness.
▼10,000-won note featuring Sejong Daewang
On the 10,000-won note is the picture of Sejong Daewang, or Sejong the Great. In the large-eyed version, he is sympathetic to his people as they learn the Hangul alphabet he helped create. In his small-eyed version, it looks like he is very pleased that everyone now uses Hangul. He seems to be saying with his eyes, “It’s so much easier, can’t you see?”
▼ South African 20-rand (elephant) and 10-rand (rhinoceros) notes
We thought it would be fun to see if this app would alter the shape of the faces on South African rand, but unfortunately the app doesn’t seem to recognize animal faces like rhinos and elephants as workable images. That’s too bad because we might have seen a preview of the next big Disney or Pixar characters thanks to the app and South Africa.
While it’s definitely fun to play around with the images of currency on our phones, might we remind you that most countries frown upon defacing its actual banknotes. If you find any more fun faces using a face-changing app, feel free to share them in the comments. Just make sure you don’t post pictures of both sides of the bill and you won’t find yourself in trouble with the law.
Additional Information: Wikipedia
Images: ©RocketNews24
[ Read in Japanese ]












Can you use the fluctuating exchange rate and Japan’s weak yen to make some money? We find out
Japanese uncle uses unique methods to give his niece some pocket money
Two Japanese arrested, suspected of importing forged money, sharing with friends
Piko Taro reveals how much money he’s made from PPAP: as much as he did in the past 25 years
Yamanashi man arrested for making fake money and tricking people into picking it up
Mr. Sato accosts award-winning actor Hideaki Ito【Interview】
Cyberpunk anime meets traditional culture in Ghost in the Shell gold leaf Japanese changing screens
7-Eleven Japan’s ramen-cooking robot whipped us up a bowl of noodles【Taste test】
Japan’s otoshidama tradition of giving kids money at New Year’s gets a social welfare upgrade
5 Japanese women who can kick your ass (in martial arts)【Women in Japan Series】
Lawson now sells old rice as “vintage” onigiri in Japan
Japanese jam jar lids close on their own, as if by magic
Lacquerware supplier to emperor of Japan and Pokémon team up for new tableware
7-Eleven now sells rice burgers in Japan, blurring the line between fast and convenience store food
More people in Japan quit sending New Year’s cards and many have started to regret it
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
Starbucks Japan releases new zodiac chilled cup drink for 2026
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Starbucks on a Shinkansen bullet train platform: 6 tips for using the automated store in Japan
Is this the most relaxing Starbucks in Japan?
Large amount of supposed human organs left in Osaka marketplace
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Japanese train company is letting fans buy its actual ticket gates for their homes
Tokyo considering law requiring more trash cans following litter increase in heavily touristed area
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
Tokyo event lets you travel back in time, for free, to celebrate 100 years since Showa era start
Sanrio theme park in Japan announces plans to expand into a Sanrio resort
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
$100 chocolate toothpaste? Gucci eraser? 7 ridiculously expensive items from around the world
A Recession Hit Mickey Mouse Photographed in LA Magically Mutilating Himself For Money
Cute cat and its human create homemade Japanese money box with hilarious results!【Video】
Queer Eye in Japan: Behind the scenes of new Netflix special currently being filmed in Tokyo
That time a stranger gave us money on a Japanese train
Piko Taro’s PPAP gets a South Korean makeover in ad for fast food chain Lotteria
Yu-Gi-Oh! collector parts with ultra-rare cards worth more than $5,000 each, for his daughter
We get a surprise offer from “Yusaku Maezawaa,” with an extra “a” for “a whole lot of money”
We put iPhone X’s facial recognition feature to the test, learned new ways to scare people【Pics】
Funny Dachshunds and gyoza dresses – Korean retailer’s unique item names tickle our funny bone
This is what a Whopper with 1,005 slices of cheese looks like in today’s financial climate
The Cat in the Surgical Mask – Twitter user plans to raise money for charity with feline figurine
Japanese town recovers 43 million yen in COVID money mistakenly sent to one man who gambled it away
We dare Tokyo’s pigeons to crap on us because we think it’ll make us rich【Experiment】
Japanese man sees his popularity with women skyrocket thanks to (mistaken) contents of his wallet
Leave a Reply