Akari Hosho, an Osaka-based startup specializing in lifelong support and legal guarantor services for the elderly, has successfully closed a new funding round to accelerate its nationwide expansion. The capital was raised through a third-party allotment of shares, drawing in new investors SMBC Venture Capital, Mizuho Capital, and Mirai Door,
The Japanese venture capital landscape has a new player aimed at the market's earliest stages. Oikaze Ventures, headquartered in Tokyo’s Minato Ward, announced the official launch of its operations and the establishment of its inaugural vehicle, Oikaze Ventures Fund I. Helmed by General Partner Misuzu Matsumoto, the
In its newly released "On-Site Examination Policy for Fiscal 2026," the Bank of Japan outlined its supervisory roadmap for the coming year. While acknowledging that the Japanese financial system remains fundamentally sound and well-capitalized, the BOJ highlighted mounting vulnerabilities tied to paper losses on domestic bonds, aggressive real
CC Innovation, a subsidiary of the newly rebranded CCI Group, announced a significant strategic expansion for its upcoming next-generation core banking system, "BankWill." Slated for launch in January 2027, the platform will now incorporate Amazon Web Services (AWS) into its multi-cloud infrastructure and introduce flexible purchasing models, stepping
Digital Garage and its payment processing subsidiary DG Financial Technology (DGFT) have launched "Cloud Pay Business," the next-generation digital transformation (DX) solution that merges DGFT’s patented QR-code payment architecture with artificial intelligence, with an initial rollout targeting Japan's amusement and arcade industry. Industry analysts note
A consortium of four domestic technology and financial firms has successfully completed a Proof of Concept aimed at fully automating B2B invoice payments. By bridging the international e-invoicing standard "Peppol" with the bank-backed digital currency "DCJPY," the initiative targets a long-sought goal in corporate accounting: the
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) has entered into a strategic partnership with the State Bank of India (SBI), India’s largest commercial lender in a move designed to bridge two of Asia’s largest economies. The agreement aims to facilitate cross-border expansion for both Japanese and Indian corporations. The tie-up
Metaplanet is aggressively expanding its footprint in the digital asset space, launching a new wholly-owned venture subsidiary alongside its first major strategic investment. In a dual announcement, the Tokyo-listed company revealed the creation of Metaplanet Ventures, a dedicated investment arm armed with an expected ¥4 billion ($26.5 million) mandate
Digital Garage Group and its subsidiary DG Financial Technology (DGFT) have launched a comprehensive new payment platform to accelerate digital transformation (DX) for brick-and-mortar retailers. The system will be anchored by the upcoming release of a next-generation smart payment terminal, developed in deep collaboration with retail technology giant Toshiba Tec
Japanese technology conglomerate GMO Internet Group has established its eighth venture capital fund, aiming to raise up to 10 billion yen to invest in startups operating at the intersection of artificial intelligence and financial technology. The new vehicle, officially named GMO Fintech Fund 8, will be managed by the group’
Japanese financial conglomerate SBI Holdings is accelerating its expansion into the Middle East, co-leading an investment in the Saudi Arabian digital microfinance startup Muhlah Zamaniyah for Finance. Executing the deal through a subsidiary, SBI partnered with Riyadh-based startup studio BIM Ventures as co-lead investors. The financial terms of the investment
Tokyo-based venture capital firm Global Brain Corporation has entered into a comprehensive strategic partnership with leading US-based accelerator Techstars. At the center of the alliance is the planned formation of a joint venture capital fund targeting $200 million (approximately ¥30 billion) in assets under management (AUM). According to the companies,