broker/dealer
The Financial Services Agency (FSA) has compiled a draft partial revision to the Comprehensive Guidelines for Supervision of Financial Instruments Business Operators (and others), and released it for public comment until Monday, August 18, 2025. This amendment is being made in light of the frequent cases of unauthorized access to
payments
Digital Garage group companies have made several new product announcements during the first half of July: * DG Financial Technology (DGFT), a subsidiary of Digital Garage, has announced the launch of initiatives integration of online and offline payments between compact automatic payment machines manufactured by AKATSUKI ELECTRIC, and DGFT's
consumer finance
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, along with its subsidiaries Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and Sumitomo Mitsui Card, announce the addition of "Money Assist" provided by Sumitomo Mitsui Card to the product lineup of the comprehensive financial service "Olive" offered to individual customers. "Money Assist" is
banking
AEON Credit Service reported a 14.9% year-on-year growth in revenue to MYR 599.92m in the first fiscal quarter ending 31 May 2025, compared to MYR 522.26m in the preceding year. AEON Credit Service was incorporated in December 1996, converted into a public limited company in February 2007,
Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred twentieth edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. There is a new chief in town. In a management roster published on July 8, the FSA lists Hiroyuki Natori as the Director of the Innovation Promotion Office and Chief FinTech Officer. In addition, the new position of
broker/dealer
Alpaca, a self-clearing broker-dealer and brokerage infrastructure API, intends to acquire WealthKernel, a wealthtech firm specializing in digital investment infrastructure and tax-advantaged products. This strategic acquisition will bring WealthKernel’s UK and EU licensed brokerage infrastructure to Alpaca, supporting their rapid global expansion to achieve its mission of opening financial
mergers & acquisitions
Gojo & Company further expanded into Uzbekistan through the acquisition of a 9.8% stake in JSC Renesans mikromoliya tashkiloti (Renesans). Gojo will support Renesans to continue pursuing its mission of delivering and developing tailored microfinance services through traditional and modern channels to people in rural areas. Renesans is committed
policy
Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has published the "Reiwa 7 (2025) Information and Communications White Paper," presenting a critical analysis of the nation's digital landscape. Framing 2025 as a "quarter-century mark" in the 21st century, the white paper establishes
corporate venture capital
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) has made an investment in Interstellar Technologies (IST), a startup company aiming for vertical integration of rocket and communications satellite businesses, and has simultaneously concluded a business partnership agreement with IST regarding support for supply chain construction in the space-related industry. This marks SMBC'
venture capital
The University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners (UTEC), one of Japan's premier science & technology venture capital firms, has raised its sixth fund, UTEC 6, with a size of JPY 47 billion (approximately USD 326 million). With the launch of UTEC 6, the firm has surpassed USD 1
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