japanese government bonds
A recent NLI Research Institute report examines the shifting landscape of Japanese Government Bond (JGB) ownership as the Bank of Japan reduces its massive holdings. With long-term interest rates rising due to monetary policy normalization and fiscal expansion, the analysis highlights a growing need for private investors to fill the
artificial intelligence
Nowcast, a subsidiary of the Finatext Group, has successfully completed development and deployment of "DAM-AICore," a proprietary generative AI application tailored exclusively for Daiwa Asset Management. The move marks a significant step in the asset manager’s digital transformation (DX) strategy, combining a custom front-end AI interface with
universal bank
The strategic positioning of Japanese financial institutions within the European Union has changed substantially in the decade following the global financial crisis, further accelerated by the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union (Brexit). Within this shifting geopolitical and regulatory environment, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG)—Japan’s largest
mergers & acquisitions
Coincheck Group N.V. (Nasdaq: CNCK) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Canadian alternative asset manager 3iQ in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $111.8 million. The deal will see the Nasdaq-listed holding company purchase a 97% controlling interest in 3iQ from its own majority shareholder, Monex
Weekly
Happy New Year! Welcome to the one hundred forty-fifth edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. Japan's Minister of Finance, Satsuki Katayama, rang the bell at the Tokyo Stock Exchange to open the new trading year today. We are pleased to announce the "Product of the Year 2025&
stablecoin
NETSTARS, a leading QR code payment gateway provider, will begin a pilot program accepting Circle's U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoin "USDC" for payments at physical retail locations within Haneda Airport Terminal 3. The initiative, claimed by the company to be a first for brick-and-mortar stores in Japan,
digital assets
The global financial system is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by the rapid emergence of digital assets. Understanding the nuanced shifts in investor behavior and sentiment is no longer a niche concern but a strategic imperative for financial institutions, regulators, and market participants. This post provides a data-driven analysis of
corporate venture capital
Digital Securities has successfully completed the third closing of its Series A funding round, raising a total of 300 million yen. This latest injection of capital brings the Tokyo-based FinTech firm’s total cumulative fundraising to 1.5 billion yen since its establishment. The round was backed by a strategic
Economics
Japan is facing a severe labor shortage, at least if you believe the headlines. The same headlines that were proclaiming the "2024 Trucker Crisis" due to annual overtime being capped at 960 hours (!), and even before that, announced the "2025 Digital Cliff". Alas, armageddon is not
capital markets
The financial technology landscape within the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) has undergone a profound structural metamorphosis until the end of 2025. Historically characterized by a rigid dichotomy between legacy banking institutions and a fragmented tier of systems integrators, the market has matured into a complex ecosystem of specialized verticals. This
asset management
The Financial Services Agency (FSA) conducts the Fund Monitoring Survey in light of requests from the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) and others for national authorities to collect data on funds of a certain scale from the perspective of financial stability, as well as for the Agency's
tokenized deposits
DeCurret DCP has entered into a strategic partnership with Kyushu Financial Group and its banking subsidiaries—The Higo Bank and The Kagoshima Bank—to explore the implementation of tokenized deposits using the "DCJPY" digital currency network. This collaboration marks the first initiative of its kind by a regional