Why one of Asia's poorest countries grows Japan's cash

Japan long harvested a shrub called mitsumata for its money supply. When mitsumata began dying out, Japan searched for alternatives to make yen and found a lifeline in the foothills of the Himalayas.

There a low-value plant called argeli grew abundantly and proved a near-perfect replacement. Argeli had been worth very little and was often the only option for farmers who'd lost crops to wild animals, until Japanese buyers turned the crop into a source of steady income.

The shift has made one of Asia's poorest countries the grower of paper for one of its richest. The influx of cash brought industry and investment to Nepal's small villages.

Japan still values physical yen today. If the country — and much of the rest of Asia — goes cashless, what will happen to Nepal's new big business?

Nepal

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