"The machine replacement has no sales impact, so it's only negative for us, on top of rising costs of labour and ingredients," said Shintaro Sekiguchi, who spent about 600,000 yen for ticket machines at three ramen shops he runs in Tokyo. ($1=161.6500 yen) (Reporting by Irene Wang; Additional reporting by Takahiko Wada; Writing by Kantaro Komiya; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Stephen Coates) "It might take until year-end to respond to this," said Takemori Kawanami, an executive at ticket machine company Elcom.

"That's too slow, but we are short of components," he added, as client orders for upgrades exceeded expectations. Many Japanese fast-food restaurants such as ramen shops and beef bowl stores use ticket machines to cut labour costs, but some small business owners battling inflation are unhappy at the extra investment needed. CLASESS The new 5,000-yen bill portrays educator Umeko Tsuda (1864-1929), who founded one of the first women's universities in Japan, while the 1,000-yen bill features a pioneering medical scientist, Shibasaburo Kitasato (1853-1931).

Nearly 90% of bank ATMs, train ticket machines and retail cash registers are ready for the new bills, but only half of restaurant and parking ticket machines, the Japan Vending Machine Manufacturers Association said. By addressing these extrinsic motivators, we can create a supportive social and economic environment that promotes recycling behavior. Monetary incentives, social norms, and eliminating charges associated with recycling can incentivize individuals to participate and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Research has shown that social recognition plays a significant role in promoting sustainable behavior. Publicly acknowledging and celebrating recycling achievements not only rewards individuals for their efforts but also sets an example for others, creating a positive social norm. This recognition contributes to a sense of belonging and encourages individuals to continue recycling, contributing to a larger-scale impact on waste reduction. Understanding the psychological impact of recycling is crucial for designing effective messaging and interventions to promote sustainable behavior.

By leveraging individuals' emotional connection to recycling and waste reduction, organizations and policymakers can craft compelling narratives and initiatives that resonate with people's values and aspirations. Education Matters magazine in India Cashless payments in Japan have almost tripled over the past decade to account for 39% of consumer spending in 2023, but still lag global peers and should rise to 80% to boost productivity, the government says.

Waste reduction faces challenges such as consumerism, lack of education, and the proper disposal of electronic waste. Solutions include educating consumers about sustainable choices, incentivizing waste reduction through reward programs, and addressing electronic waste through recycling programs and awareness campaigns. Key companies are raising workers' wages at the fastest rate in 33 years, but lingering inflation, fed by the rapid weakening of the yen currency, keeps consumption and the mood of business sluggish, recent economic data show.

TOKYO, July 3 (Reuters) - Japan began circulating its first new banknotes in 20 years on Wednesday, featuring three-dimensional portraits of the founders of financial and female education institutions in an attempt to frustrate counterfeiters.