Japanese insurers have accelerated their overseas expansion in recent years. In this exclusive interview, Mr Takashi Hamano, Assistant Commissioner for International Affairs, Financial Services Agency, Japan, shares how his organisation supports that development and lays out the measures that will be enforced to ensure sustainable growth of the industry. In the Q&A session transcribed below touching on topics ranging from the industry's recent performance to IFRS standards and the Stewardship code, Mr Hamano tells us that the negative spread that Japanese insurers had to grapple with for decades is now becoming a thing of the past.
By Gregory Taylor, AIR correspondent, Northeast Asia
Leaner motor insurance lines and a relatively benign year in terms of natural catastrophes have ushered in an era of profitability for Japanese non-life insurers, but the road to sustained, long-term profitability will be long and winding. Mr Masayoshi Hori, Executive Director of the General Insurance Association of Japan (GIAJ) shares his views.
By Gregory Taylor, AIR correspondent, Northeast Asia
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Japanese life insurers will likely continue their overseas expansion and will work towards greater sustainability of the country's social security system. Mr Koichiro Watanabe, Chairman of the Life Insurance Association of Japan (LIAJ), shares his insights on where the sector is heading.
By Gregory Taylor, AIR correspondent, Northeast Asia
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Mr Tomoatsu Noguchi, President and Chief Executive of Toa Re, reflects on the non-life and life sectors in 2014 as well as shares his outlook for 2015 with the pending increase in sales tax, the perennial competition and how Toa Re's long history of experience and insights will continue to serve as solid competitive advantage in today's excess capital environment.
By Gregory Taylor, AIR correspondent, Northeast Asia
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Rising risk awareness and the projected economic improvement in Japan should see premium growth for the non-life sector in 2015. Ms Irina Fan of Swiss Re Asia elaborates.
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Overseas expansion is a key strategy for many insurers in Japan. MSIG confirms this and shares with us its plans for the year ahead. We also look at what some of the other big boys are doing in this sector.
By Gregory Taylor, AIR correspondent, Northeast Asia
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The re-election of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with a renewed mandate for his Abenomics policies offers the Japanese insurance market the stability it requires to better meet the challenges of adverse demographics and ever-more sophisticated consumer demands. Mr Tetsuya Fujita of ReMark Japan Co Ltd outlines the key requirements for insurers in 2015, and assesses how the ongoing economic recovery makes Japan a more attractive market for investors, both foreign and domestic.
By Mr Shinichi Takahashi, Partner, and Mr Takahiro Sato, Associate, Nishimura & Asahi, Tokyo