supervision
In its newly released "On-Site Examination Policy for Fiscal 2026," the Bank of Japan outlined its supervisory roadmap for the coming year. While acknowledging that the Japanese financial system remains fundamentally sound and well-capitalized, the BOJ highlighted mounting vulnerabilities tied to paper losses on domestic bonds, aggressive real
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
regional banks
Regional Financial Institutions (RFIs) are the cornerstone of Japan's local economies. As outlined in the "Working Group on Strengthening Regional Financial Capabilities" draft report, their role extends beyond simple financing to become a driving force for regional economic vitality. However, their capacity to fulfill this critical
stablecoin
Digital Platformer and JPYC have commenced a joint study aimed at mutual cooperation between Japan's first Japanese Yen-pegged stablecoin "JPYC" and the deposit-backed token "Tochika," launched by Hokkoku Bank in April 2024, as well as the construction of a business alliance model with regional
banking
SBI Holdings reported financial results for the first half of Fiscal Year 2025 (April 1, 2025 – September 30, 2025) at the end of October. Given the usual comprehensive reporting (150+ pages), the following article aims to extract the key updates. I. Consolidated Performance Overview SBI Holdings reported record-breaking performance for
regional banks
The Chiba Bank and The Chiba Kogyo Bank have jointly declared their resolution to pursue a management consolidation. This strategic move, formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), aims to establish a new bank holding company that will serve as the wholly-owning parent of both institutions. The
regional revitalization
The first meeting of the Financial System Council's Working Group on Strengthening Regional Financial Power was held on Friday, September 5, 2025, focusing on the evolving role of regional financial institutions in Japan's regional revitalization efforts and the profound implications of accelerating population decline on urban
banking
SBI Holdings has concluded a “Strategic Capital and Business Alliance Agreement” with TOHOKU BANK. Having completed the repayment of public funds for SBI Shinsei Bank, the group is now free to resume its regional banking rollup strategy in order to create the "fourth mega bank". Purpose of the
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
regional banks
The Daiwa Institute of Research published a paper titled "Cross-Prefectural Restructuring of Regional Banks: The Reorganization of Local Economic Zones at its Foundation" on July 11, 2025, providing a detailed analysis of the ongoing restructuring of Japan's regional banking sector, and arguing that these realignments are