An ATM That Ironed Yen?

In 1994, *The Washington Post* described Japanese “Clean ATMs” that fed banknotes through rollers, heated them to about 392 °F (200 °C), and smoothed them before dispensing. The article repeated a manufacturer's claim that the process killed some bacteria, while noting that the bank had not conducted its own efficacy research. This is a documented historical example, not evidence that modern Japanese ATMs work this way or that every note is reliably disinfected.