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
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
Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred nineteenth edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. With the last update on the Shunto wage negotiations behind, and the Upper House elections ahead of us, it is worth taking another look at the situation the average Japanese consumer finds herself in. In September 2022, we
Weekly
Welcome to the - exceptionally late - one hundred seventeenth edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. At the Monetary Policy Meeting held last week, the Policy Board of the Bank of Japan decided, by a unanimous vote, to set the following guideline for money market operations for the intermeeting period:
artificial intelligence
Neo First Life Insurance, a member of the Dai-ichi Life Group, announced a new AI-based system that detects potential fraudulent insurance claims early, which will be gradually introduced from June to October 2025. In recent years, insurance claims suspected to be fraudulent have become increasingly complex and sophisticated. Dealing with
Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred sixteenth edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. We are back, and so is the Bank of Japan, with their June Monetary Policy Meeting. While a change in the policy rate is not expected, the Bank will update its plan for JGB purchases starting in April