banking
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG) has commenced the fiscal year ending March 2026 with a robust first-quarter performance, characterized by strong underlying fundamentals in its core domestic operations. The group reported a Profit Attributable to Owners of Parent of ¥376.9 billion, a modest increase of 1.5% year-over-year (YoY)
core banking
CC Innovation, a group company of Hokkoku Financial Holdings, has decided to license the next-generation core banking system currently being developed for Hokukoku Bank from January 2028, as well as various subsystems developed and utilized in-house, to regional financial institutions outside the group. CC Innovation will also begin providing migration
asset management
SBI Sumishin Net Bank and FOLIO, a subsidiary of FOLIO Holding that provides innovative financial solutions within the SBI Group, have concluded a "Basic Business Partnership Agreement" for the purpose of jointly developing new asset management services for SBI Sumishin Net Bank customers. The launch of the new
crypto
Just like for this fiscal year (see link at the bottom), the Japan Cryptoasset Business Association (JCBA), jointly with the Japan Virtual and Crypto assets Exchange Association (JVCEA), has compiled a tax reform request for cryptoassets for FY2026 and submitted it to the government. Purpose of This Request Web3.0
payments
Infcurion has announced that its group company Link Processing has begun full-scale implementation of the cashless payment solution "Anywhere D135" on rear seat tablets deployed by GO Corporation, which provides the taxi app "GO". The rear seat tablets will undergo full-scale implementation from this summer and
banking
GMO Aozora Net Bank and the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Engineering Morikawa-Narisue Laboratory have officially launched joint research towards the construction of innovative credit risk assessment models utilizing AI and machine learning. In other news, TRABOX has launched a new service called "Finto Invoice Payment", which
bitcoin
Tokyo Stock Exchange-listed Quantum Solutions has entered into a business collaboration arrangement with TDX Strategies to cooperate extensively in areas including Bitcoin trade execution, asset custody, structured product design, and market risk management—offering end-to-end technical and service support for Quantum Solutions' Bitcoin Treasury strategy. Quantum Solutions previously disclosed
credit card
Tokyo Metro has announced the launch of a post-payment boarding service using touch payment methods with compatible cards (including credit, debit, and prepaid cards) and smartphones with such cards configured, on all Tokyo Metro lines starting in spring 2026. Tokyo Metro has been operating a "boarding service utilizing credit
credit card
High-end credit cards have recently become extremely popular in Japan, offering a variety of lifestyle benefits, rather than just loyalty points acceleration. For example, NTT Docomo has been successful with its Platinum card offerings (call us happy customers). Japan Airlines is taking the concept one level beyond, aiming for a
private equity
Japan Post Insurance, KKR, and Global Atlantic, a leading provider of retirement security and investment solutions, and a wholly-owned subsidiary of KKR, have entered into definitive agreements under which Japan Post Insurance will invest $2 billion (approx. JPY 300 billion) in a new vehicle sponsored by Global Atlantic. Japan Post
artificial intelligence
JAPAN AI has raised a total of 1.9 billion yen in Series B funding with participation from JAFCO Group, Nissay Capital, FCE, and Resona Capital. The raised funds will be utilized to strengthen talent acquisition, expand AI agent capabilities and enhance quality, and strengthen AI integration with marketing SaaS,
credit card