Senior Bank Analyst - Japanese Banks, Windamee Research

J. Brian Waterhouse

Senior Bank Analyst - Japanese Banks

Windamee Research

Japanese Banks

Equity Bottom-Up

Fukuoka Financial Group / Equity Bottom-Up

<p>When approaching icebergs, a rear-view mirror is not much use in avoiding the danger.</p><p><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fukuoka-financial-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3712:1" rel="noopener">Fukuoka Financial Group (8354 JP)</a> has announced a significant accounting policy affecting the way the group’s four subsidiary banks provision for potential credit costs, moving to ‘forward-looking’ provisioning.  As a result of this accounting policy change, loan-loss reserves have been increased by ¥41.8 billion in FY3/2020, roughly equivalent to 40bps in additional annual credit costs.  Combined with an additional ¥8.7 billion in COVID-19 precautionary provisioning, as well as unbudgeted extra costs of some ¥1.2 billion relating to business integration expenses, the impact on FY3/2020 earnings has been to reduce the group’s forecast for consolidated recurring profits from a profit of ¥52.5 billion to a recurring loss of ¥5.0 billion, while net profits have now been reduced from a forecast ¥148.5 billion to ¥111.0 billion.  This suggests that 4Q FY3/2020 results may have turned into a consolidated net loss of around ¥38.5 billion.  Nevertheless, the ¥85/share annual dividend will not be affected by this announcement.</p><p>Whether other regional banks will be encouraged to follow FFG’s lead and move to ‘forward-looking’ credit provisioning remains to be seen.  We remain skeptical, given the current state of many regional banks’ balance-sheets.  FFG has adopted a pragmatic approach to credit provisioning among the coronavirus pandemic, and has been able to absorb these additional costs thanks to a ¥117.43 billion ‘windfall profit’ in FY3/2020.  Other banks do not have this luxury. Moreover, while the policy change is to be welcomed, it raises questions as to what the true state of Eighteenth Bank’s asset quality might be that could have prompted such a drastic accounting policy move.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><em>Caveat Emptor! </em> (May the Buyer Beware!)</p>

When approaching icebergs, a rear-view mirror is not much use in avoiding the danger.Fukuoka Financial Group (8354 JP) has announced a significant accounting policy affecting the way the group’s four subsidiary banks provision for potential credit costs, moving to ‘forward-looking’ provisioning.  As a result of this accounting policy change, loan-loss reserves have been increased by ¥41.8 billion in FY3/2020, roughly equivalent to 40bps in additional annual credit costs.  Combined with an additional ¥8.7 billion in COVID-19 precautionary provisioning, as well as unbudgeted extra costs of some ¥1.2 billion relating to business integration expenses, the impact on FY3/2020 earnings has been to reduce the group’s forecast for consolidated recurring profits from a profit of ¥52.5 billion to a recurring loss of ¥5.0 billion, while net profits have now been reduced from a forecast ¥148.5 billion to ¥111.0 billion.  This suggests that 4Q FY3/2020 results may have turned into a consolidated net loss of around ¥38.5 billion.  Nevertheless, the ¥85/share annual dividend will not be affected by this announcement.Whether other regional banks will be encouraged to follow FFG’s lead and move to ‘forward-looking’ credit provisioning remains to be seen.  We remain skeptical, given the current state of many regional banks’ balance-sheets.  FFG has adopted a pragmatic approach to credit provisioning among the coronavirus pandemic, and has been able to absorb these additional costs thanks to a ¥117.43 billion ‘windfall profit’ in FY3/2020.  Other banks do not have this luxury. Moreover, while the policy change is to be welcomed, it raises questions as to what the true state of Eighteenth Bank’s asset quality might be that could have prompted such a drastic accounting policy move.Caveat Emptor!  (May the Buyer Beware!)

Fukuoka Financial Group  (8354 JP):  When Approaching Icebergs ...

Silver Point

Thomas J. Monaco

Silver Point is a boutique research firm that focuses on the broader financial services sector, with a particular focus on troubled institutions globally. 

Asia Ex Japan

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial (MUFG) / Equity Bottom-Up

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial (MUFG) (8306 JP)

<p><strong><em>*MUFG Pre-Announcement:</em></strong> According to Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (8306.JP) [MUFG], FY 2019 preliminary profit declined to its lowest level in a decade after MUFG added JPY 100 bn to JPY 520 bn (results due out on May 15<sup>th</sup>) due to  COVID-19-related charges and stock holdings hurt by volatile markets. This is the second earnings revision in less than a year, as guidance is now down 40% in aggregate.</p><p><strong><em>*Still Overstating Earnings Despite Downgrade: </em></strong>All else equal, MUFG – based on its lax discretionary provisioning methodology - is overstating preliminary results between JPY 916-1,042 bn, by our calculation.</p><p>*<strong><em>Pig Piling Continues: </em></strong>The lack of provisioning is far from the only problem MUFG must manage. ACOM is a chronically understates kaburai risk; <em>p</em>ost-COVID-19, we calculate that MUFG America’s will have a regulatory capital shortfall of up to USD 6.5 bn or 40% of MUFG America’s stated equity; continued impairments on subsidiaries; significant Softbank (9984.JP) exposure; and Morgan Stanley’s (MS.US) MUFG dilutive E*Trade (ETFC.US) transaction.</p>

*MUFG Pre-Announcement: According to Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (8306.JP) [MUFG], FY 2019 preliminary profit declined to its lowest level in a decade after MUFG added JPY 100 bn to JPY 520 bn (results due out on May 15th) due to  COVID-19-related charges and stock holdings hurt by volatile markets. This is the second earnings revision in less than a year, as guidance is now down 40% in aggregate.*Still Overstating Earnings Despite Downgrade: All else equal, MUFG – based on its lax discretionary provisioning methodology - is overstating preliminary results between JPY 916-1,042 bn, by our calculation.*Pig Piling Continues: The lack of provisioning is far from the only problem MUFG must manage. ACOM is a chronically understates kaburai risk; post-COVID-19, we calculate that MUFG America’s will have a regulatory capital shortfall of up to USD 6.5 bn or 40% of MUFG America’s stated equity; continued impairments on subsidiaries; significant Softbank (9984.JP) exposure; and Morgan Stanley’s (MS.US) MUFG dilutive E*Trade (ETFC.US) transaction.

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Quantitative Analysis

<div><p>The short notional in the market for the week ended 15 November is US$25.82bn (down by US$480m) with the largest short positions in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/itochu-corp" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18448:1">Itochu Corp (8001 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toyota-motor-corp" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:73:1">Toyota Motor (7203 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taiyo-yuden-co-ltd" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9924:1">Taiyo Yuden (6976 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/canon-inc" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1:1">Canon Inc (7751 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sumitomo-mitsui-financial-gr" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:217:1">Sumitomo Mitsui Financial (8316 JP)</a>. </p></div><div><p>Most shorted stocks as a percentage of free float are <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/zozo-inc" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18379:1">ZOZO Inc (3092 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/medpeer-inc" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:4090:1">Medpeer Inc (6095 JP)</a>,  <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/leopalace21-corp" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8244:1">Leopalace21 Corp (8848 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/taiyo-yuden-co-ltd" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9924:1">Taiyo Yuden (6976 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tokai-carbon-co-ltd" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9145:1">Tokai Carbon (5301 JP)</a> while the stocks with the highest days to cover are <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/katakura-industries-co-ltd" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2007:1">Katakura Industries (3001 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/vital-ksk-holdings-inc" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7398:1">Vital Ksk Holdings (3151 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/j-trust-co-ltd" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20246:1">J Trust Co Ltd (8508 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dcm-holdings-co-ltd" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13042:1">Dcm Holdings (3050 JP)</a>.  <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/j-trust-co-ltd" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:20246:1"></a></p></div><div><p>The largest increases in short notional over the week were <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/zozo-inc" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18379:1">ZOZO Inc (3092 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alps-alpine-co-ltd" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12001:1">Alps Alpine (6770 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/chiba-bank-ltd" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1048:1">Chiba Bank (8331 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fukuoka-financial-group-inc" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3712:1">Fukuoka Financial Group (8354 JP)</a> while shorts were covered in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ricoh-co-ltd" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15359:1">Ricoh Co Ltd (7752 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/zenkoku-hosho-co-ltd" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:5537:1">Zenkoku Hosho (7164 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/monotaro-co-ltd" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15441:1">Monotaro Co Ltd (3064 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/marui-group-co-ltd" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13604:1">Marui Group (8252 JP)</a>.  <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/miramar-hotel-investment" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15014:1"></a></p></div><div><p>Sectorally, shorts were covered in Consumer Staples (US$188m) and Industrials ($139m) while shorts were increased in Consumer Discretionary (US$62m) and Materials (US$34m).</p></div>

The short notional in the market for the week ended 15 November is US$25.82bn (down by US$480m) with the largest short positions in Itochu Corp (8001 JP), Toyota Motor (7203 JP), Taiyo Yuden (6976 JP), Canon Inc (7751 JP) and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial (8316 JP). Most shorted stocks as a percentage of free float are ZOZO Inc (3092 JP), Medpeer Inc (6095 JP),  Leopalace21 Corp (8848 JP), Taiyo Yuden (6976 JP) and Tokai Carbon (5301 JP) while the stocks with the highest days to cover are Katakura Industries (3001 JP), Vital Ksk Holdings (3151 JP), J Trust Co Ltd (8508 JP) and Dcm Holdings (3050 JP).  The largest increases in short notional over the week were ZOZO Inc (3092 JP), Alps Alpine (6770 JP), Chiba Bank (8331 JP) and Fukuoka Financial Group (8354 JP) while shorts were covered in Ricoh Co Ltd (7752 JP), Zenkoku Hosho (7164 JP), Monotaro Co Ltd (3064 JP) and Marui Group (8252 JP).  Sectorally, shorts were covered in Consumer Staples (US$188m) and Industrials ($139m) while shorts were increased in Consumer Discretionary (US$62m) and Materials (US$34m).

'Quantamental' Japan Specialist, LightStream Research

Campbell Gunn

'Quantamental' Japan Specialist

ja research

ja research is an independent research platform focused exclusively on Japanese equities. Leveraging data and graphic analysis provided by Japan Analytics, we provide insights on small and medium-sized companies that have been ignored by the sell-side as well as challenging conventional wisdom on larger companies. We also offer analyst and corporate access, the latter with translation if required. 

<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>• RELATIVE PRICE SCORE</strong> • </p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/090/226/original/2019-06-13_16-47-07.png?1560412038" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="90226"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>INTRODUCTION </strong>- The Relative Price Score (RPS) is a measure of stock price performance relative to TOPIX calculated by comparing the current deviation with the mean absolute deviation of monthly and daily relative share prices. As all companies are thus on a comparable scale, 'Overbought' and 'Oversold' outliers and changes in scoring can reveal short-term and longer-term trading opportunities. Company outlier thresholds are set at<strong> +4</strong> &amp; <strong>-2</strong> and equate to the top and bottom first-to-second percentiles of historical observations from which mean reversion takes a matter of months. RPS outliers with a Score of greater than 10.0 are rare outside of the 2000 tech 'bubble'. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/goldwin-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:410:1">Goldwin (8111 JP)</a> has the distinction of being one of only two large-cap RPS 'ten-baggers' since that time.</p><p><strong>This insight updates our list of Overbought and Oversold companies, reviews the best and worst performing companies in terms of RPS over the last three months and adds some specific comments on stocks on each category.</strong></p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/090/196/original/2019-06-13_11-15-27.png?1560392157" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="90196"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>STATISTICS</strong> - Currently, of the 3,832 listed companies for which daily RPS data is available, 94 companies are 'Overbought', and 131 are 'Oversold' - 2.5% and 3.4%, respectively of the total. For the 758 companies with a market capitalisation of over ¥100b, there are 50 'Overbought' and 18 'Oversold' companies, 6.6% and 5.0%, respectively. As noted the companion Insight, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/japan-june-relative-price-scores-market-sectors-peer-groups-more-of-the-same" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:30323">🇯🇵 Japan • June Relative Price Scores: Market, Sectors &amp; Peer Groups - More of The Same</a>, these numbers and percentages are unusual and were last seen in the Japanese market in 2000. </p><hr><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>• RELATIVE PRICE SCORE TOPS •</strong></p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/090/202/original/2019-06-13_13-06-49.png?1560398835" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="90202"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source: Japan Analytics</div><p><strong>RPS 'TOPS'</strong> - In the last two years, 444 companies have achieved an RPS of '4' or more and the average Overbought 'persistence' is 43 days. 1.4% of the total of 1.29 million traded stock days were by companies with an RPS of over 4. For companies with a market capitalisation higher than ¥100b, the numbers are 96 companies and 75 days - demonstrating the superior persistence of large capitalisation companies in this regard. Some examples of RPS mean reversion in the last three months have been <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/descente-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8225:1">Descente (8114 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alfresa-holdings-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10610:1">Alfresa (2784 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/320" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:320:1">FamilyMart Uny (8028 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kikkoman-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11720:1">Kikkoman (2801 JP)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kobayashi-pharmaceutical-co" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14930:1">Kobayashi Pharmaceutical (4967 JP)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/eiken-chemical-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12675:1">Eiken Chemical (4549 JP)</a>.  </p><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/090/201/original/2019-06-13_13-04-38.png?1560398780" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="90201"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/090/203/original/2019-06-13_13-08-46.png?1560398945" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="90203"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/090/204/original/2019-06-13_13-09-37.png?1560399049" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="90204"></figure><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/090/205/original/2019-06-13_13-12-01.png?1560399142" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="90205"></figure><div class="content-caption">
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/090/316/original/2019-06-15_19-45-47.png?1560595558" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="90316"></figure><p>Source: Japan Analytics</p>
</div><p><strong>RPS 'BOTTOMS'</strong> - 372 companies have seen their RPS fall to '-2' or below in the last two years, and the average Oversold 'persistence' is 61 days. 1.5% of the total of 1.29 million traded stock days were by companies with an RPS of less than -2.  For larger capitalisation companies, the numbers are 85 companies and 89 days. A recent example of positive RPS mean reversion is <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/k-o-energy-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:17701:1">K&amp;O Energy (1663 JP)</a>.</p><div class="content-caption">
<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/090/207/original/2019-06-13_13-14-03.png?1560399270" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="90207"></figure><p>Source: Japan Analytics</p>
</div><div class="content-highlight"><p>In the <strong>DETAIL </strong>section below, we list the current very overbought (RPS&gt;5), too late to buy (RPS &gt;4&lt;5) and oversold (RPS &lt;-2) stocks as well as the most substantial three-month positive and negative changes in RPS.</p></div>

• RELATIVE PRICE SCORE • Source: Japan AnalyticsINTRODUCTION - The Relative Price Score (RPS) is a measure of stock price performance relative to TOPIX calculated by comparing the current deviation with the mean absolute deviation of monthly and daily relative share prices. As all companies are thus on a comparable scale, 'Overbought' and 'Oversold' outliers and changes in scoring can reveal short-term and longer-term trading opportunities. Company outlier thresholds are set at +4 &amp; -2 and equate to the top and bottom first-to-second percentiles of historical observations from which mean reversion takes a matter of months. RPS outliers with a Score of greater than 10.0 are rare outside of the 2000 tech 'bubble'. Goldwin (8111 JP) has the distinction of being one of only two large-cap RPS 'ten-baggers' since that time.This insight updates our list of Overbought and Oversold companies, reviews the best and worst performing companies in terms of RPS over the last three months and adds some specific comments on stocks on each category.Source: Japan AnalyticsSTATISTICS - Currently, of the 3,832 listed companies for which daily RPS data is available, 94 companies are 'Overbought', and 131 are 'Oversold' - 2.5% and 3.4%, respectively of the total. For the 758 companies with a market capitalisation of over ¥100b, there are 50 'Overbought' and 18 'Oversold' companies, 6.6% and 5.0%, respectively. As noted the companion Insight, 🇯🇵 Japan • June Relative Price Scores: Market, Sectors &amp; Peer Groups - More of The Same, these numbers and percentages are unusual and were last seen in the Japanese market in 2000. • RELATIVE PRICE SCORE TOPS •Source: Japan AnalyticsRPS 'TOPS' - In the last two years, 444 companies have achieved an RPS of '4' or more and the average Overbought 'persistence' is 43 days. 1.4% of the total of 1.29 million traded stock days were by companies with an RPS of over 4. For companies with a market capitalisation higher than ¥100b, the numbers are 96 companies and 75 days - demonstrating the superior persistence of large capitalisation companies in this regard. Some examples of RPS mean reversion in the last three months have been Descente (8114 JP), Alfresa (2784 JP), FamilyMart Uny (8028 JP), Kikkoman (2801 JP), Kobayashi Pharmaceutical (4967 JP), and Eiken Chemical (4549 JP).  
Source: Japan Analytics
RPS 'BOTTOMS' - 372 companies have seen their RPS fall to '-2' or below in the last two years, and the average Oversold 'persistence' is 61 days. 1.5% of the total of 1.29 million traded stock days were by companies with an RPS of less than -2.  For larger capitalisation companies, the numbers are 85 companies and 89 days. A recent example of positive RPS mean reversion is K&amp;O Energy (1663 JP).
Source: Japan Analytics
In the DETAIL section below, we list the current very overbought (RPS&gt;5), too late to buy (RPS &gt;4&lt;5) and oversold (RPS &lt;-2) stocks as well as the most substantial three-month positive and negative changes in RPS.

🇯🇵 Japan • Relative Price Scores - Overbought & Oversold Companies - June 2019

Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Supun Walpola

Equity Analyst

Long-Short Analysis on Japan, Asia and the World

LightStream Research

LightStream conducts quantitatively rigorous and data-driven analysis with a focus on Japan and Asia.

We consistently cover the Tech, Consumer and Industrial sectors, and provide ECM and Events coverage more broadly.

We supplement traditional qualitative insights from company relationships with a robust quantitative foundation that examines as much historical data as is available.
We further refine the accuracy of our insights and calls through the use of alternative data to flesh out current trends, and through a valuation framework that emphasises non-superficial peer group selection and a proper attempt to understand the metrics and changes that have driven security valuations in the past.

<p>Readers interested in Japan's payments/cashless future should refer <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/2415" target="_blank">Michael Causton</a>'s excellent work in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/who-will-win-the-cashless-wars-in-japan" target="_blank">Who Will Win the Cashless Wars in Japan?</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/loyalty-points-in-japan-more-loyalty-more-points-and-the-conduit-to-cashless-payments" target="_blank">Loyalty Points In Japan: More Loyalty, More Points and the Conduit to Cashless Payments</a>. As Michael notes, a points-based ecosystem could be the key to winning this war and if we were to guess at this point, we feel <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/rakuten-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31:1">Rakuten Inc (4755 JP)</a> is most likely to walk away as THE winner, though the situation is still highly uncertain. </p>

Readers interested in Japan's payments/cashless future should refer Michael Causton's excellent work in Who Will Win the Cashless Wars in Japan? and Loyalty Points In Japan: More Loyalty, More Points and the Conduit to Cashless Payments. As Michael notes, a points-based ecosystem could be the key to winning this war and if we were to guess at this point, we feel Rakuten Inc (4755 JP) is most likely to walk away as THE winner, though the situation is still highly uncertain. 

Rakuten Pay Tops the Japanese Cashless War

Japan

Fukuoka Financial Group, Inc. is a holding company established through the merger of the Bank of Fukuoka and Kumamoto Family Bank. As a financial group, the Company provides banking services including deposits, loans, foreign currency transactions. The Company also provides other financial services such as credit card, letter of credit, and leasing services.

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Fukuoka Financial Group (8354 JP)