FinCity.tokyo

Naoki Kanehisa, Auditor of FinCity.Tokyo and Senior Partner at Atsumi & Sakai Foreign Law Joint Enterprise, spoke with us about Tokyo’s strengths as a market and thoughts on further steps to make Tokyo an international financial hub.

As auditor of FinCity.Tokyo how do you view the significance of the organization’s activities?

I believe that the attractions of Japan and Tokyo are now broadly communicated overseas. At the same time, I think there is still considerable room to promote the concept of the “Global Financial City: Tokyo.” Many in the global financial industry have still never been to Japan. FinCity’s overseas promotion activities are important as they provide opportunities to learn about Japan and Tokyo even from abroad. From the end of 2017 to October 2025, I served as head of the London office of Atsumi & Sakai. During that period, I attended and even spoke at FinCity-related events in London every time, so I have strong personal ties to the organization. Though my role as auditor now is a behind-the-scenes position, I hope to support the organization’s activities.

You have lived and worked in London and New York, and have visited many locations around the world. Compared to other global cities, what are Tokyo’s distinctive features and attractions?

Returning to Tokyo after some time, what strikes me is how comfortable it is to live here. The city is clean, safe, and has well-developed public transportation. Things like trains arriving on time are taken for granted by Japanese people, but are viewed as signs of a highly service-oriented city by people from overseas. In recent years, not just from Asia but also from Europe and the Middle East, more young people are moving to Tokyo on work visas and living here for several years. I actually handle legal matters for such people and really feel that Tokyo is becoming a truly international city.

What are Tokyo’s strengths and challenges as a market?

Compared to overseas, Tokyo stands out for its large population and considerable market size, political stability, and its developed infrastructure. I regularly receive inquiries from overseas companies wanting to enter the market, which reflects the high level of interest. On the other hand, to succeed in Tokyo or Japan, having a business partner who really knows the market, and being able to find a reliable country manager, are key points—network-building and talent recruitment are challenges.

What about financial regulation and systems?

I regularly provide regulatory advice, and compared to the UK, I do not find Japan’s regulatory framework particularly strict. Depending on the circumstances, it can even take longer to acquire licenses overseas than in Japan. However, whether such actualities are being communicated sufficiently in English is questionable—a gap exists compared to overseas. Law firms like mine work to provide English updates and regulatory insights, but there is still relatively little official information released in English. I believe this is an area where FinCity, as a promotional body, could contribute.

What is needed for Tokyo to further develop as an international financial center?

We increasingly hear news about securities accounts being hijacked or cyberattacks. Cybersecurity is a field that will only increase in importance and continue to develop. A law to strengthen cyber response capabilities is planned for implementation later this year, but both regulations and organizational systems must be in place so investors feel their money is safe.

As a law firm—and personally—what do you want to focus on going forward?

Regarding cross-border M&A, finance, and financial regulation matters that I have handled so far, I want to continue supporting both Japanese and overseas companies from both inbound and outbound perspectives. As regulations abroad that affect Japanese companies have become more complex, the number of cases where we give regulatory advice in collaboration with overseas law firms is increasing.

Another area I’m focused on is urban development. Last year, our firm established a “Culture, Tourism & Urban Development Practice Team,” which handles everything from system design to practical assistance in a cross-functional way. At the end of last year, FinCity also held an event on international finance and urban development. Urban development is a field where finance, intellectual property, systems, and regulation are intricately intertwined, and public-private collaboration is essential. I hope to make full use of our expertise and experience to contribute.