Not to mention interest rates have remained near-zero, Japanese households have not been able to grow their assets so much. While US household assets have grown by 3.41 times between 1997 and 2019, Japanese have only grown by 1.48 times during the same period. And still, more than half of $18 trillion household assets are still held as cash. I think one of the main reasons is lack of good investment opportunities for Japanese individuals. There have certainly been demands for investment opportunities. What has been notably sold to individual investors is the group of mutual funds to pay monthl ..read more

In Japan, foreign distressed debt funds are collectively called “HAGETAKA fund”, meaning vulture fund. Why are they so disgraced? It seems to me that Japanese just envy those foreign funds for timely coming and making money, while we fell behind. Although those funds do not come for free lunch. Now, Japanese government looks to invite foreign investors and asset managers, with the mission to promote as a financial hub. It should be beneficial to welcome various types of investors including distressed debt funds and create a win-win situation. I think it would be good if Japanese fresh money, i ..read more

Tokyo metropolitan government and Japanese government have taken some measures for the ambition of becoming a financial hub. Japan has been left behind Hong Kong and Singapore over the last few decades, however, wants to get it back sensing that rival Hong Kong has been weakened by its political turmoil. They want to invite international investment managers and fintech firms. I think the key for Japan to success lies in whether we can create synergy between the international financial companies and abundant personal financial assets so that both can benefit from each other. Needless to say, th ..read more