Japan's life insurance industry will focus on three key areas in 2026: strengthening customer trust, promoting sustainability, and improving public understanding. This is according to a New Year's message from Life Insurance Association of Japan (LIAJ) Chairperson Yukinori Takada.
“It is indeed the time for the life insurance industry, which has long provided a strong preparation and security for the future, to fulfill its mission,” Mr Takada said, emphasising the industry’s role amid demographic pressures and frequent natural disasters.
The first priority, customer-oriented operations, will see the sector continue to advance initiatives that “pursue the best interests of the customers,” including enhancing compliance and risk management across direct sales channels and supporting independent agencies in implementing the Insurance Business Act, Mr Takada added.
Second on the list is supporting a sustainable society. Mr Takada said this aims to promote “a better co-existing future” through efforts such as a symposium on well-being, reports on unconscious bias, and programmes fostering female leadership within member companies.
The third priority, improving public understanding, involves “earning customers’ wide understanding of our various activities” by highlighting the work of insurance sales professionals and publishing historical materials tracing the industry’s development alongside major social events, Mr Takada explained.
Mr Takada concluded, “Standing at this centennial milestone, the life insurance industry will, while inheriting its historical mission, continue to work toward the realization of a society where everyone can live in good health and with peace of mind.”