The Ministry of Finance of Japan issued an announcement on October 4, 2002 concerning the issuance of a commemorative coin to mark "The 5th Winter Asian Games AOMORI 2003" which has been hold from February 1, 2003 to February 8, 2003.
This commemorative silver coin is the first coloured coin minted in Japan. The face value is 1,000 yen, is called a "Premium coin" which is a commemorative coin whose production cost exceeds its face value and is sold by the government at a price above its face value.