Financial Services
Latest news and updates on financial services for expats in Japan
Japan's Multi-Debt Crisis Surges as Interest Rates Climb to 18-Year Highs
Japan faces a dual financial crisis with multi-debt borrowers up 30% to 1.47 million and interest rates hitting 18-year highs. Expats should review de...
Rising Rates and Real Estate Fraud: What Japan Residents Need to Know
Japan's interest rates hit 18-year highs at 1.95%, increasing mortgage costs, while construction companies fraudulently impersonate condo residents to...
Japan Tightens Bank Security Amid Fraud Surge and Regional Consolidation
Japan is implementing stricter bank account verification requiring IC chip documents like My Number Cards, while expanding subsidies for regional bank...
AI Wealth Management and Japanese Robotics Attract Major Investment
US wealth platform Range raises $60M for AI financial services while Tokyo's Mujin secures 36.4B yen for robotics, highlighting investment trends in f...
Japan Overhauls Financial System: NISA Expansion, Crypto Rules, and Banking Shifts
Japan plans to remove NISA age limits for long-term investments, classify cryptocurrencies as regulated financial products with new protections, and i...
Securities Account Hijacking Scheme Targets Japan Investors
Two suspects arrested for hijacking securities accounts and manipulating low-priced stocks, raising 100 million yen through fraudulent trades and asse...
Foreign Investment in Tokyo Real Estate Surges as Yen Weakens
Foreign investment in Tokyo real estate is surging, led by Taiwanese and Chinese buyers, while the yen fluctuates and digital payment systems expand, ...
Yen Weakens to 157 Per Dollar as Japan Signals Possible Intervention
The yen weakened to 157 per dollar on November 21, prompting Finance Minister Katayama to warn that government intervention is under consideration. Th...
Japan's October Inflation Reaches 3.0% as Food and Energy Costs Rise
Japan's inflation hit 3.0% in October, driven by food and energy costs. Rice prices dropped slightly, while the government plans 5.3% wage increases f...
Economic Pressures Mount as Japan Faces Utility Subsidies and Market Volatility
Japan introduces 7,000 yen utility subsidies starting January 2025 amid market concerns about fiscal expansion. The yen weakens to 10-month lows while...
Yen Plunges to Historic Low Against Euro as Japan's Economy Contracts
The yen hit a historic low of 180 per euro on November 17 as Japan's economy contracted 1.8% in Q3, creating significant financial implications for ex...
Japan's Major Banks Hit Record Profits Amid Rising Interest Rates
Japan's three major banks achieved record interim profits driven by rising interest rates, while a Fukushima credit union faces regulatory action for ...
Japan's Digital Shift: Streamlined Address Changes and AI Banking Arrive
Japan launches unified online address change system from November 17, while MUFG partners with OpenAI for AI banking services, promising easier admini...
Yen Weakens to 154 Per Dollar as Nikkei Surges Past 52,000 for First Time
The yen weakened to 154 per dollar while the Nikkei closed above 52,000 for the first time on October 31st, 2025, driven by diverging monetary policie...