corporate venture capital
Sony Financial Ventures and Global Brain Corporation have established a new joint venture company through a co-investment. The rapidly changing environment has been requiring startups to accelerate business expansion, go global, and adopt sophisticated fundraising practice, causing more complex management issues. This has heightened expectations for investment partners who can
Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred thirty-third edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. What a difference a week makes! For last week's edition, it seemed a foregone conclusion that Takaichi, coming fresh off her victory in the LDP presidential election, would become Japan's first female prime minister.
Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred thirty-second edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. What a difference a year makes! After last year's LDP leadership election, which Ishiba won in a run-off against Takaichi, the TOPIX sold off -3.5% and the Japanese Yen strengthened from ¥146 to below ¥142
financial center
The Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI), published semi-annually by Z/Yen Group and the China Development Institute, stands as a premier benchmark for assessing the competitiveness of the world's major financial hubs. The 38th edition, dated September 2025, offers a timely and data-rich perspective on the shifting dynamics
korea
The Seoul FinTech Week 2025 Conference took place on Monday, September 29, 2025, and was live streamed via YouTube. We summarize our key takeaways, as well as some of the insights gathered from the individual sessions. Top 10 Takeaways from Seoul FinTech Week 2025 1. AI is the Undisputed Core
Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred thirty-first edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. We tried to have the publication of our weekly report co-incide with quarter-end (at least that is this week's excuse), and follow the first two trading days of the spun-out Sony Financial. After an indicative price
fintech
Heiwa Real Estate will open FinGATE SAPPORO in IKEUCHI LAB, the first FinGATE facility in Sapporo, on Monday, October 20, 2025. At FinGATE SAPPORO in IKEUCHI LAB, Heiwa Real Estate will draw on the financial hub operational experience and knowhow it has cultivated since 2017 in the Nihonbashi Kabutocho and
Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred thirtieth edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. Last week, the World Athletic Championships took place in Tokyo, putting the Olympic Stadium finally to the grand use it was designed for (including an audience!). Whether inspired by the athletic performances or not, the Bank of Japan
Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred twenty-seventh edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. Congratulations to the WebX & Coinpost teams for delivering an outstanding conference! Although SBI took the headlines with a full plate of announcements already on the Friday prior in Osaka, the news flow did not let up. More
Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred twenty-sixth edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. Quite the week in Japan, with the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), as well as the kick-off to Japan Blockchain Week with the WebX Fintech EXPO in Osaka. The former was dominated by SMBC making
Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred twenty-fourth edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. The TOPIX reached a record high on August 8, 2025, hitting 3038.84 points during the regular session and closing at 3024.21. This was the first time TOPIX has broken 3000 points in its history. It closed
Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred twenty-third edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. Earnings season is in full swing, and there were plenty of announcements last week, so we would just like to draw your attention to the Japan Fair Trade Commission's guidelines for smartphone apps - coming into