ATOM Inc., a Tokyo-based robotics startup, has raised ¥3 billion (approximately $19 million USD) in a seed funding round. The capital injection will be used to establish a development framework for dual-arm bipedal humanoid AI robots, with the long-term goal of mass production within the manufacturing and logistics sectors. The
Tokyo-based financial services giant SBI Holdings has finalized its full acquisition of SBI LY HOUR Bank PLC, rebranding the institution as SBI Bank (Cambodia) PLC. The transaction marks the final transition of the former microfinance institution into a wholly owned subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate, following an initial restructuring phase
Yamaguchi Financial Group (YMFG) has officially adopted "UPWARD," a specialized field sales support service developed by UPWARD Inc. This partnership aims to optimize outside sales operations and elevate customer engagement across YMFG's banking network. Headquartered in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, and led by President and CEO Keisuke
The structural barriers separating Japan’s traditional financial sector from the global digital asset ecosystem are beginning to dissolve. Digital Asset Markets (DAMS) has officially launched a wholesale cryptocurrency trading service tailored specifically for institutional investors, securities firms, and corporate entities. Operating under tight compliance parameters in light of evolving
Sony Life Insurance has selected financial technology firm SimCorp to modernize its core investment management platform. The Tokyo-based insurer will deploy the "SimCorp One" platform as its front-to-back investment infrastructure, aiming to reduce operational complexity and enhance data oversight. The agreement marks a major milestone for SimCorp, securing
GMO Aozora Net Bank has announced a pioneering strategy to become the world's first "AI Bank" by integrating autonomous agents into three core areas of its business. This initiative focuses on delivering personalized banking experiences for corporate clients, automating internal operations through an AI transformation, and
The Bank of Japan’s Financial Markets Department provided a comprehensive analysis of government bond market trends and monetary adjustments for the 24th "Bond Market Participants Meeting." The materials detail the ongoing reduction in long-term Japanese Government Bond (JGB) purchases, showing a planned decline in monthly offer amounts
Laser Digital, the digital asset subsidiary of Nomura Group, has received preliminary conditional approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish a de novo national trust bank. The newly approved entity, Laser Digital National Trust Bank, will operate under federal supervision as a wholly owned
Globe Fintech Innovations (Mynt), the parent company of dominant Philippine mobile wallet GCash, has finalized key strategic partnerships in Japan with the objective of accelerating its international expansion and digital transformation, The agreements were formalized during President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s state visit to Tokyo. The
Independent venture capital firm Genesia Ventures announced the final close of its fourth vehicle, Genesia Venture Fund IV Investment Limited Partnership ("Fund IV"), locking in $113 million in total commitments. The fund is backed predominantly by domestic and international institutional investors, alongside various financial institutions. Consistent with the
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), its retail banking arm MUFG Bank, and consolidated subsidiary Moneytree have rolled out a generative AI-backed service integrated with OpenAI’s "Apps in ChatGPT," the companies announced Thursday. The rollout marks a concrete step in MUFG’s broader retail AI strategy originally unveiled
Japan’s economy expanded at an annualized rate of 2.1% in the first quarter of 2026, marking its second consecutive quarter of growth. This expansion was driven by resilient domestic consumption, capital investment, and a rebound in exports to the United States following a slowdown induced by earlier tariffs.