banking
The Financial Services Agency (FSA) held a series of meetings with Japan's financial industry associations, outlining its key priorities and concerns. The discussions reveal a strong focus on enhancing governance, strengthening cybersecurity, and ensuring customer-centric operations across the entire financial system. I. Common Points Raised Across Associations Several
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
artificial intelligence
NTT Data Corporation has concluded a sales agent agreement with Lazarus AI, which provides multimodal LLM products available in closed network environments, particularly to the life insurance industry, and property insurance industry, and is also a participant in Plug and Play Japan's Summer 2025 InsurTech Batch. Starting in
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
Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred twenty-second edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. We have implemented our own, very personal "Don't buy American" policy, which might seem ironic, given that you are most likely to read this newsletter on LinkedIn, but we do offer a self-hosted version
motor insurance
Insurance
On July 22, 2025, S&P Global Ratings hosted a live webinar titled "Japan Insurance Sector Trend," providing an in-depth analysis of the current state and future outlook for Japan's life and non-life insurance industries. The presentation, led by Director Toshiko Sekine and Associate Director
Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred twenty-first edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. In Japan’s Upper House Elections, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party along with partner New Komeito lost its majority in the chamber. This marks the first since 1955 that the LDP-led government has fallen below a majority in
life insurance
Neo First Life Insurance, a member of the Dai-ichi Life Group, has entered into a business partnership with Car Seven DigiField, which operates a used car buying and selling franchise chain. Through this business partnership, Neo First Life Insurance will begin providing various insurance services and information, including an "
artificial intelligence
Tokio Marine dR (TdR) and Corpy & Co. will begin a strategic business partnership from July 2025 aimed at supporting the promotion of AI utilization by Japanese companies. Through this partnership, TdR's AI governance-related expertise will be combined with Corpy's advanced AI technology to contribute to
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