Newsletter

Newsletter_FINCITY.TOKYO UPDATE (June 2026)

2026.06.18

Updates from Tokyo’s expanding finance and startup ecosystem and the 58 members of FinCity.Tokyo.

FinCity.Tokyo in the News

The Nikkei rally – AI and robotics drive Japanese stocks
Handelsblatt interviewed FinCity.Tokyo’s Executive Director Tokio Morita, about Japan’s strong recent momentum in AI, semiconductors, and more, supported by global investor interest in Japan (original article in German).

Japan wants to become a leading nation in asset management (Revue Banque, May 20)

Director Morita was also interviewed by Revue Banque about the factors driving a recent surge in foreign investor interest in Tokyo (original article in French).

Special Feature on Reuters Plus

Tokyo’s Blueprint for Transition Finance: How Japan is Leading Regional Decarbonization

As the world seeks pathways to decarbonization without sacrificing growth, Tokyo is emerging as a leading hub for transition finance. Through insights from FinCity.Tokyo’s Executive Director, Tokio Morita and key market participants, the article explores Japan’s unique framework, global partnerships, and its role across Asia.

Read the full article here

Special Interview

Interview: “360 Degrees Beyond the Peak” — Tokyo’s Potential in an Age of Population Decline

On April 22nd, FinCity.Tokyo had the honor of interviewing Ichiro Takahashi, Chairman of Seibu Shinkin Bank, on Tokyo’s opportunities as a steadily growing financial hub despite the looming challenges of a decreasing population. Chairman Takahashi also shared his insights on the role of “shinkin banks” like Seibu, member-owned cooperative financial institutions formed under the principles of mutual assistance between workers and small-scale business operators.

View the full interview here

Other Updates

Join online via Teams : UK-Japan Transition Finance Forum, 23rd June 13:00 GMT

Join us for an inspiring deep dive into the latest on transition finance in Japan and the UK at Nomura International in London. The event will cover:

Tokyo’s initiatives on sustainable finance — including the TOKYO Resilience Bond, the world’s first resilience bond to obtain Climate Bonds certification.
Insights from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and GX Acceleration Agency on Japan’s transition bonds and approach to blended finance
The latest on the UK’s Transition Finance Guidelines
Expert panels on how transition bonds can raise finance for decarbonization, support the green transition of emerging economies, and more.

Join online via the link below:
https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/322015551444928?p=ltxZjEEeklq9hCetcj
Meeting ID: 322 015 551 444 928
Passcode: ts2V4YF2

We look forward to seeing you there!　Register now

FinCity.Tokyo at the Asian Finance Forum, Seoul

On May 21, FinCity.Tokyo Chairman Hiroshi Nakaso delivered a keynote speech at the Asian Finance Forum in Seoul. With many Japan-Korea financial experts in attendance, he outlined how the finance hubs of Tokyo and Seoul can work together amid current international economic and financial challenges and to raise the prosperity of the Asian region.

Visit to the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE) and Taiwan Asia Asset Management Center (AAMC)

On May 26, a delegation from the Taiwan Stock Exchange and the Taiwan Asia Asset Management Center visited FinCity.Tokyo to investigate the current state of special zones for finance and asset management in Japan. This visit also gave us the opportunity to explore further collaboration with TWSE/AAMC.

Key Stories in Media

News stories Domestic Media

- Nikkei surpasses 69,000 for first time in “super-bearish market” spurred by US-Iran deal (Nikkei, June 15)
  Given US President Trump’s announcement of an agreement reached with Iran, the Nikkei Stock Average continued to rise on the 15th in the Tokyo stock market, closing at 69,593 yen in the morning, up 3,573 yen (5.41%) from the previous weekend.
- Household equity assets double in last decade, surpassing JPY 500 trillion on the back of NISA investment (Tokyo Shimbun, June 13)
  The government’s push to shift from savings to investment has accelerated, and the amount of stocks and investment trusts held by households has doubled from 10 years ago to more than 500 trillion yen. In addition to favorable market conditions, the expansion of the Small Investment Tax Exemption System (NISA) is also a factor.
- Japanese AUM balances reach record high of 1,131 trillion yen as of March 31, 2026 (Nikkei, June 11)
  The Asset Management Association announced that AUM of domestic asset management companies amounted to 1,131 trillion yen as of the end of March 2026. This is an increase of 16% YoY. The balance reached a record high mainly due to the rise in domestic and overseas stock prices.

News stories International Media

Foreign activists take aim at bigger targets in corporate Japan (Nikkei Asia , June 17)
Activist investors are helping drive governance reforms and capital efficiency improvements across corporate Japan, contributing to a significant market rally. While balancing short-term and long-term interests remains a challenge, shareholder engagement is broadly seen as strengthening Japan’s appeal as an investment destination.
Nikkei 225 tops 70,000 for first time (NHK World, June 17)
The Nikkei 225 crossed the 70,000 milestone for the first time, capping a remarkable rally from 50,000 last October, supported by a BOJ rate hike that landed within expectations and positive global developments. While some analysts caution the pace may outstrip the real economy, the market’s momentum reflects growing investor confidence in Japan.
Japan Ruling Party Still Mulling Sales Tax Cut to Zero for Food (Bloomberg, June 15)
The LDP is pressing ahead with its campaign pledge to suspend the 10% sales tax on food entirely rather than settling for a smaller 1% cut, signaling a commitment to consumer relief despite an estimated ¥5 trillion annual revenue cost.

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