Latest
Summary of the Press Conference by Minister of Finance and Minister of State for Financial Services Katayama following the Cabinet Meeting (September 29, 2026) AIAI translation
AI At the post-Cabinet press conference on September 29, 2026, Finance Minister Katayama said the Cabinet approved the use of reserve funds totaling 1,119 billion yen (781 billion yen for register support and related measures, 338 billion yen for tax system modifications and related work) to prepare for the reduction of the consumption tax rate on food and beverages and the introduction of a support payment to ease the burden on workers, both scheduled for April 2027. He also reported that the fourth project under the Payment Innovation Project (PIP), a proof-of-concept trial of blockchain-based trade settlement, had been selected for support. In the Q&A he addressed the September 25 phone call with US Treasury Secretary Bessent, long-term interest rates, the requested inspection planning office at the FSA, and the role of the RCC.
Summary of Finance Minister Katayama's Press Conference Following the Cabinet Meeting (September 25, 2026) AIAI translation
AI At his post-cabinet press conference on 25 September 2026, Finance Minister Katayama said that, while the specific methods of monetary policy should be left to the Bank of Japan, he regards its 18 September raising of the policy rate from about 1.0% to about 1.25% as a step toward achieving the 2% price stability target. He declined to comment on exchange rate and long-term interest rate movements or on any rate check, but disclosed that at the Japan-US summit President Trump voiced concern about the weak yen and Prime Minister Takaichi said in general terms that undervaluation of the yen is a problem, and that he will continue close discussions with Treasury Secretary Bessent, including on exchange rates.
Hosting of Overseas Authority Officials at the Global Financial Partnership Center (29th Session: 15 Insurance Supervisory Authority Officials) AIAI translation
AI The Financial Services Agency's Global Financial Partnership Center (GLOPAC) invited 15 officials from overseas insurance supervisory authorities from 25 August to 3 September 2026 for its 29th training program, which presented the FSA's approach to key issues in insurance regulation and supervision and included an exchange of views on policy challenges. As of September 2026, including activities under its predecessor AFPAC, it has run 29 training programs and similar activities for overseas financial authority staff, hosting a total of 281 participants as researchers and in other capacities.
Publication of the Summary of Discussions by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision AIAI translation
AI The Financial Services Agency announced that the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision published the record of its meeting held on 28-29 September 2026 (Reiwa 8). At the meeting, members exchanged views on developments in artificial intelligence and related topics, approved the annual assessment of global systemically important banks, revisions to curb end-of-period window-dressing, and the final standard on machine-readable Pillar 3 disclosures, and agreed to consult on additional Pillar 2 guidance on interest rate risk in the banking book and to present an update by year-end on the targeted review of the prudential standard for banks' crypto-asset exposures.
Extension of Periods of Stay in Connection with the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake AIAI translation
AI The FSA states that a Ministry of Justice notice (Notice No. 69 of August 7, 2026) uniformly extended to January 27, 2027 the expiry date of the period of stay for persons residing in municipalities where the Disaster Relief Act was applied after the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake. Because the expiry date printed on residence cards still shows the pre-extension date, concerns have been raised that financial institution accounts might be closed, and the FSA reports that it has issued a notice to relevant industry associations.
Implementation of the Cross-Sector Cybersecurity Exercise for the Financial Industry (Delta Wall 2026) AIAI translation
AI The Financial Services Agency announced that, against a backdrop of increasingly sophisticated and fast-moving cyberattacks, it will hold the 11th cross-sector cybersecurity exercise for the financial industry (Delta Wall 2026) from 6 to 22 October 2026, with a planned 181 participating financial institutions, aiming to improve cyber resilience and incident response capability across the industry.
Publication of the Asia Region Funds Passport (ARFP) "2025 Annual Report" AIAI translation
AI The Financial Services Agency updated its Asia Region Funds Passport (ARFP) page in October 2026 (Reiwa 8) and newly posted the "2025 Annual Report" among its published materials. The ARFP is a framework in which participating APEC economies harmonize regulation to make it easier to sell funds that meet investor protection requirements across one another's markets; the ARFP Joint Committee was established on June 30, 2016.