asset management
The Japanese retail investment landscape has seen a remarkable transition over the past few years, driven by the "shift from savings to investment" and the structural tailwinds of the "New NISA" (Nippon Individual Savings Account) regime. As domestic investors increasingly migrate toward low-cost vehicles, the traditional
capital markets
With the close of the fiscal year in March 2026, Japan Exchange Group (JPX) has further aligned its "Medium-Term Management Plan 2027," signaling a definitive shift to hedge against equity volume volatility by diversifying its revenue mix toward interest-rate and data-driven verticals. The policy update marks the commencement
Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred sixty-first edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. This week, we are excited to have new subscribers join us from the Bank of England, the Central Bank of Ireland, the Dubai Police Academy, Harvard Law School, and BBVA Asset Management en España, among others 🙏 We are
capital markets
The Japanese ETF market ended a grueling three-quarter streak of net outflows with a commanding recovery. Total net inflows surged past the ¥1 trillion threshold, lifting total assets under management (AUM) to ¥116 trillion—a notable jump from the ¥112 trillion recorded at the end of 2025. This resurgence is
capital markets
Nomura has delivered a robust set of financial results for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2026, marking a critical step in the firm’s long-term transformation under President and Group CEO Kentaro Okuda. In a period characterized by sharp global market volatility, Nomura has managed to scale its top-line
capital markets
Mizuho Securities, the brokerage arm of Mizuho Financial Group, has deployed a new artificial intelligence-powered communications monitoring system provided by London-based tech firm Behavox. The move marks a broader push among Tier 1 Japanese financial institutions to replace fragmented compliance tools with integrated, AI-native frameworks. The newly implemented system, Behavox
capital markets
On November 5, 2024, the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) extended the trading day to 15:30 and implementing a formalized closing auction. This transition was designed to enhance global competitiveness and accommodate the liquidity requirements of passive investment strategies. By extending the trading window, the TSE has effectively minimized the
capital markets
The Japan Securities Clearing Corporation (JSCC) is moving to modernize the architectural backbone of Japanese finance, announcing a strategic initiative to implement a blockchain-based settlement layer. In collaboration with Mizuho, Nomura, and technology partner Digital Asset, the JSCC is transitioning toward a more resilient, instantaneous clearing environment. By utilizing the
Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred sixtieth edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. This week, we are excited to have new subscribers join us from Rothschild & Co, France's Ministère de l'Intérieur, the Indian Institute of Technology Jammu, the International Islamic University, Islamabad, and the Asian Development
SaaS
Money Forward (TSE: 3994), a leading Japanese provider of back-office SaaS and financial management solutions, has delivered a surprisingly positive first-quarter performance for the fiscal year ending November 2026. The company achieved a positive operating profit of JPY 170 million, defying initial expectations of a loss. The results, underpinned by
capital markets
The Financial Services Agency (FSA) has released its "2025 Collection of Good Practices in Descriptive Information Disclosure." This document serves as a strategic playbook for listed companies, moving toward a model of "narrative reporting" that bridges the gap between ESG initiatives and financial value creation. As
Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred fifty-ninth edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. This week, we are excited to have new subscribers join us from the Korea Investment Corporation, the Central Bank of Ireland, the University of York, and a fellow whose wife left him after reading NIST SP 800-207, among