Japan FinTech Observer | Tontines | ex-Goldman & Barclays Tech MD
artificial intelligence
SMBC Value Creation, a subsidiary of Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, and AVITA have entered into a new business partnership agreement to launch a joint business utilizing avatar technology. By combining the technologies and expertise of both companies, they aim to improve productivity at Japanese companies. SMBC Value Creation has obtained
mergers & acquisitions
Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance (MSI), a subsidiary of MS&AD Insurance Group, has decided to acquire shares of Time Machine Underwriters (TMU), a Managing General Agency (MGA) specialized in Representation & Warranty Insurance in Japan. MSI plans to acquire the majority ownership share of TMU on August 1 2025, and
debt financing
UPSIDER Capital Corporation, a subsidiary of UPSIDER Corporation, has completed the final close of the second fund "UPSIDER BLUE DREAM Growth Fund 2", within the venture debt fund "UPSIDER BLUE DREAM Fund" operated as a joint venture with Mizuho Financial Group. This Fund includes participation from
artificial intelligence
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMBC Group) will appoint Ahmed Jamil Mazhari to lead transformation initiatives aimed at accelerating group-wide AI strategy and integration. In partnership with Mazhari, SMFG will also establish a new agentic AI solutions company in Singapore, first serving SMBC Group as “customer zero” before expanding to the
CBDC
The Bank of Japan has published the minutes from the 9th meeting of the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) Liaison Council on June 4, 2025. The meeting covered discussions about: * Progress updates from the Bank of Japan on CBDC pilot experiments and international developments * Key concerns from various financial industry
Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred nineteenth edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. With the last update on the Shunto wage negotiations behind, and the Upper House elections ahead of us, it is worth taking another look at the situation the average Japanese consumer finds herself in. In September 2022, we
trust bank
Mitsui & Co. Digital Asset Management (MDM) and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank have jointly established "ALTERNA Trust", a trust company specializing in digital securities, with a view to further development of the digital securities market, with MDM holding 85.1% and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank holding 14.9%
venture capital
Asu Capital Partners, a venture capital firm supporting entrepreneurs aiming for "Japan to Global" expansion, has completed the final close of the "Asu Capital Partners Fund No. 1". In this fourth round of fundraising, the company received investments from Yamanashi Chuo Bank, Yostar, Kashima Antlers FC,
innovation
At the beginning of July 2025, the Innovation Strategy Center of Japan's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) published its "Innovation Outlook Version 1.0," outlining a new strategic direction for national research and development. It pivots from a traditional, linear model of R&
mergers & acquisitions
ORIX Corporation announced in the May 12, 2025 press release “ORIX Signs Letter of Intent to Acquire Majority Interest (Consolidation) in Hilco Global” that its group company in the U.S., ORIX Corporation USA (OCU), has decided to enter into a nonbinding Letter of Intent with Hilco Trading, a U.
corporate venture capital
Hokkoku Financial Holdings (Hokkoku FHD) Group's Hokkoku Bank and Soft Space have commenced the development of a SoftPOS solution that enables touch payments from international payment networks including Visa, and for the first time in the world, payments using deposit-type stablecoins. At the same time, QR Investment, a
venture capital
Japan Investment Corporation (JIC) has decided to make an LP investment of JPY3.5 billion in Genesia Venture Fund IV Investment Limited Partnership (“GV-4”), which is managed by Genesia Ventures. JIC’s mission is to create a virtuous cycle of risk capital that supports the next generation of domestic industries