A new research report by ISDA and Crisil Coalition Greenwich shows that derivatives are expected to play a pivotal role in Japan’s ambition to become a global leader in asset management, but some barriers need to be reduced to enable the country’s asset managers to fully take advantage of these instruments.

The report, based on discussions with 20 senior asset managers in Japan, shows that derivatives are viewed as essential tools for achieving investment strategies and objectives, with 80% of respondents highlighting their importance for both portfolio management and product development. Following the end of the Bank of Japan’s eight-year negative interest rate policy last year, firms are expected to increasingly look to the derivatives market to help manage the implications of interest rate changes. According to the report, 90% of asset managers see value in expanding their use of derivatives.

In fact, 89% of market participants who responded to the survey believe further use of derivatives will directly or indirectly support the Japanese government’s asset management strategy. Since 2023, the Japanese Financial Services Agency has announced a series of initiatives to strengthen Japan’s position as a hub for asset management, including steps to remove barriers to entry and promote a diverse range of investment opportunities.

Despite these steps, market participants highlighted several issues that can constrain their use of derivatives, including uneven liquidity in some market segments, low levels of electronic execution and processing, regulatory and accounting issues and a shortage of local derivatives expertise.

“Our report shows asset managers in Japan see real value in using derivatives to manage risk, enhance returns and enable product innovation – benefits that will increase the vibrancy of Japan’s asset management sector and allow firms to improve their competitiveness on the global stage. We encourage regulators and market participants to work together to deliver the market, policy and infrastructure improvements necessary to unlock the full potential of Japan’s derivatives market and cement the country’s position as a leading asset management center,” said Scott O’Malia, ISDA’s Chief Executive.

“Derivatives have proven over time to be useful tools that continue to provide benefits to Japanese asset managers and corporations alike,” said Stephen Bruel, Head of Derivatives and FX on the Market Structure and Technology team at Crisil Coalition Greenwich, and author of the report. “Removing the constraints will improve scale and efficiency and make those benefits more pronounced.”

Read the full report here.

For Press Queries, Please Contact:

Nick Sawyer, ISDA London, +44 20 3808 9740, nsawyer@isda.org

Joel Clark, ISDA London, +44 20 3808 9760, jclark@isda.org

Christopher Faimali, ISDA London, +44 20 3808 9736, cfaimali@isda.org

Michael Milner-Watt, ISDA London, +44 20 3808 9777, mmilner-watt@isda.org 

Nikki Lu, ISDA Hong Kong, +852 2200 5901, nlu@isda.org