FinCity.tokyo

INTERVIEW:GETTING READY FOR TOKYO SUSTAINABLE FINANCE WEEK

Between October 15 and 24, FinCity.Tokyo will be hosting its annual Tokyo Sustainable Finance Week (TSFW), an event dedicated to exploring the various facets of sustainable finance. We spoke to Ms. Tomomi Suzuki, who will be serving as the main MC for the event, about why the TSFW matters right now and Tokyo’s role in further sustainable finance globally.

Why are events like this important and what can we look forward to at the TFSW?

During the TSFW, a variety of events and symposiums will take place, offering programs both for business professionals on the front lines of industry and for individuals seeking insights to improve their daily lives and asset-building strategies.
What makes TSFW unique is its ongoing commitment to communicating messages to a wide range of audiences. Kicking off the week on the opening day, October 15th, is the international symposium “Tokyo Sustainable Forum.” Now in its sixth year, TSFW is anchored by this major event.
Under the theme “Japan’s Sustainable Finance Strategy to the World,” global leaders from government, finance, and industry will gather in Tokyo. I believe this event presents a valuable opportunity to gain insight into how Tokyo will realize a sustainable society and to explore strategic approaches for its role as Asia’s financial hub.

You will be moderating the TSFW event in October. Can you give us some insights into how you are preparing for this?

The “Tokyo Sustainable Forum” is a valuable platform for discussions aimed at forging a new path toward a sustainable society from Tokyo, solidifying the city’s role as Asia’s financial hub. I am honored to serve as the main MC for such a meaningful event. Since 2017, I have also worked as the anchor for “Tokyo Financial Street” (STOCK VOICE TV),
an information program that highlights Tokyo’s vision as an international financial city, and I have shared various messages about realizing a sustainable society from Tokyo.
For this year’s “Tokyo Sustainable Forum,” I welcomed Ms. Misaki Shoji, Manager at FinCity.Tokyo, as a guest to discuss the event’s unique features, key points, and significance in detail for a wider audience.
The program is available in the archive, so I hope you will take a look:
https://youtu.be/fE6GR0TVxaw?si=aG47hl4gOfQJ7x0O

What themes or insights are you most excited to highlight through this event?

This year’s event will once again be held in a hybrid format with simultaneous Japanese-English interpretation, making it a valuable opportunity to attract attention from around the world. In such a setting, I hope to convey to a global audience that Tokyo is steadily making progress as an international financial center, and that we are proactively working to blaze new trails toward a sustainable society as Asia’s financial hub.
I am passionate about sharing our efforts and hope to inspire both domestic and international participants to collaborate with us in developing strategic approaches that leverage Japan’s strengths.

Japanese investors have embraced green finance, but in other parts of the world, there has been a backlash. What is your view on this?

I believe that the polarization seen in other regions around the world is also becoming evident in the field of sustainable finance, even as Japanese investors remain committed to green finance. Differences in countries’ political, economic, and cultural backgrounds have led to a diversification of approaches, which is one of the contributing factors to this situation.

In this context, Japan’s approach to green finance is characterized by government support and a collaborative, gradual strategy. The Japanese government has adopted a “GX” (Green Transformation) strategy to promote public and private investment in decarbonization. Notably, Japan is demonstrating international leadership in the field of
transition finance—for example, by issuing the world’s first sovereign transition bond.

Taking a long-term approach to ESG helps ensure a sustainable flow of funds, regardless of the temporary backlash occurring in other parts of the world. Green finance is not only about environmental protection; it is also economically rational, offering opportunities for growth through long-term risk management and innovation. It is expected that this value will be increasingly recognized in the long run.

I personally believe that green finance is not just a financial product, but also an important issue that should drive both discussion and action in transforming the values of society and transitioning the entire economic system.

Why do you think Japan, and Tokyo in particular, is well-placed as a hub for green finance?

Whether Tokyo is “optimal” or not may depend on how one defines the term, but I believe Tokyo possesses both the foundation and advantages to serve as a major hub for green finance in Asia. In particular, Tokyo’s strengths in transition finance and its political stability are unique advantages not found in other hubs.

Tokyo’s expertise in transition finance can play a significant role as a base for supporting decarbonization across the entire Asian region. The city already boasts world-class economic strength and financial market infrastructure, and Japan’s abundant domestic savings and capital mean there is substantial potential to direct these funds toward green
and sustainable investments.
With a stable political and legal environment, Tokyo is also well-positioned to attract long-term green investments. I believe Tokyo has the potential to establish itself as a unique financial hub in Asia that can offer both “green finance” and “transition finance.”

About the author

Tomomi Suzuki is an Economic Newscaster, Part-time Lecturer at the Faculty of Political Science and Economics, Kokushikan University; a Visiting Researcher at the Waseda University Institute for Transnational Human Resource Management; a Master of Economics; Member Journalist of the Japan National Press Club; and a Certified Financial
Planner.
She serves as anchor for Japan’s first terrestrial TV program providing live stock market coverage, Tokyo Market Wide, WORLD MARKETZ (Tokyo MX, Mie TV, Sun TV), and Tokyo Financial Street (STOCKVOICE TV), and also appears on radio programs including TOKYO FM and Radio NIKKEI. In addition, she writes regular columns for NIKKEI STYLE, Mynavi, FinTech Journal, and Nikkei QUICK, among others. She has conducted numerous interviews with politicians, corporate executives, and Hollywood celebrities both in Japan and abroad.
She is the author of Stock Investment: 100 Essential Basics for Loss-Free Investing under the New NISA (Alsos), From a Deflation Mindset to an Inflation Mindset (Shueisha), and Reverse Engineering for Extending the Lifespan of Your Assets (Shasta International).