mergers & acquisitions
21st Financial Technology (21st FinTech) has reached an agreement for a capital and business alliance with Payment for, a leading Japanese payment software service provider. This partnership will strengthen the service integration between both companies and accelerate the deployment of 21st FinTech services in the Asian market, while also providing
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
payments
The Tokyo Stock Exchange has approved the initial listing of Infcurion's shares on the Growth Market, with the listing date scheduled for Friday, October 24, 2025. Infcurion's listing application provides a detailed look into the company that positions itself not as a direct financial service provider,
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
venture capital
Tokyo and Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm DNX Ventures has completed the formation of the "4th Japan Annex Fund" with DNX as the general partner, totaling 24.7 billion yen. The 3rd Japan Annex Fund, which announced its final close in 2024, completed its full capital deployment early
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
banking
This past week has marked a pivotal moment in Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation's (SMBC) engagement with the African continent. Against the backdrop of the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), SMBC has announced a series of strategic partnerships and investments that underscore a deep and multi-faceted
venture capital
A new partnership between specialist venture capital firm Uncovered Fund and corporate VC Monex Ventures highlights increasing Japanese investment in Africa's technology landscape. The two have launched the "Uncovered Monex Africa Investment Partnership," a ¥3 billion (around $20 million) fund targeting early-stage startups in Africa and
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
ecommerce
Introduction Mercari is committed to achieving the mid-term policy announced in FY2024.6, which aims for double-digit CAGR growth in revenue and a CAGR of at least 25% in core operating profit in FY2027.6. These targets remain unchanged. Following Mercari's basic policy to essentially aim for top-line