Japan FinTech Observer | Tontines | ex-Goldman & Barclays Tech MD
economics
The Sompo Institute Plus (SRI), the think tank of Sompo Group, has published a report that analyzes how accurate government economic growth forecasts have been in Japan, particularly focusing on projections made in 2015 for the period through 2023. It examines why these forecasts often missed the mark, finding that:
BaaS
Money Forward has decided, by a resolution of its Board of Directors, that it will enter into a basic agreement with Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation regarding the establishment of a preparatory company to consider the provision of BaaS/digital banking, and that it concluded the
SME finance
Mizuho Bank and ORIX Corporation have concluded a basic guarantee agreement for unsecured business loans targeting medium and small enterprises. New business loans with ORIX guarantees are scheduled to begin on May 1, 2025. The focus will be on companies with sales of 5 billion yen or less, with 30,
cashless
PayPay Corporation has launched a new payment method, "PayPay Bank Balance," starting April 15, 2025. This payment option is available through the PayPay Bank app provided by PayPay Bank Corporation. Payments made through the PayPay interface within the PayPay Bank app will be directly debited from the Japanese
factoring
Money Forward has decided to make Biz Forward, which develops online factoring services and billing agency services for small and medium-sized enterprises, a wholly owned subsidiary. The Money Forward Group provides financial services such as inter-company payment and billing agency services through Money Forward Kessai and Biz Forward. As part
cashless
Digital Garage and its payment business subsidiary, DG Financial Technology, have partnered with the All Japan Real Estate Association (Zennichi), which comprises about 30% of real estate companies nationwide, to provide "Rabby Pay Powered by Cloud Pay Neo" service to over 35,000 Zennichi member companies nationwide using
cross-border payments
Digital Wallet Corporation (DWC), owner and operator of Smiles Mobile Remittance, Japan’s most popular mobile international money transfer provider, has launched “TAX REFUND JAPAN,” a new service designed to support the revised tax-free shopping system for inbound tourists. This first-of-its-kind service from a licensed funds transfer provider in Japan
venture capital
Plug and Play Japan has established the investment limited partnership "Plug and Play Japan Fund I" to support the global expansion of startups in Japan. For the first close, they have received investments totaling over 3 billion yen from MUFG Bank, Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises and
alternatives
Tokyo-based Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, a leading trust bank, and Chicago-based GCM Grosvenor, a leading global alternative asset management solutions provider, have announced a strategic partnership to offer clients best-in-class alternative investment products to capitalize on the attractive Japanese market demand for alternative investment solutions that add value to investment
crypto
Korean blockchain infrastructure company DSRV has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Japan's Next Finance Tech (NFT). Through this agreement, both companies plan to jointly pursue blockchain infrastructure business across Asia, starting with the Japanese market. DSRV will provide infrastructure services in Japan including node operation,
banking
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, and Sumitomo Mitsui Card will launch "Trunk," a digital comprehensive financial service for corporate customers, in May 2025. Background and Purpose In recent years, with the advancement of digital technology, technological evolution, and entry of players from different industries, financial
payments
PayPay Corporation announces that four new services used in six countries can now process payments at PayPay merchant locations that use "Alipay+". The newly added services are "K PLUS" (Thailand), "Kaspi.kz" (Kazakhstan), "Bluecode" (Germany, Austria), and "BigPay" (Thailand, Malaysia,