Country Reports
2024
May 13, 2024
Japan: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note on Banking Supervision and Regulation Selected Issues
Description: The Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) carried out a targeted evaluation of issues relating to the effectiveness of banking supervision and regulation in Japan. The scope of the work focused on the key findings from the 2017 Basel Core Principles (BCP) Detailed Assessment Report (DAR) and the transformation of the supervisory approach by the Financial Services Agency (FSA) undertaken since the last FSAP. The overall conclusion of the 2017 DAR was that the supervisory framework was generally sound, but some key priority areas were identified as needing to be addressed. This note reviews progress made in these areas as well as examining the fundamental shift to a more risk-focused, principles-based supervisory approach than before.
May 13, 2024
Japan: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note on Cyber Resilience and Financial Stability
Description: Japan’s financial system is digitalizing rapidly, increasing exposure to cyber risk. As in other jurisdictions, the pace of digitalization in Japan has increased substantially, but cyber incidents have also surged in recent years. The tight interdependencies within its financial system, and beyond, make Japan vulnerable to evolving cyber threats. The Financial Services Agency (FSA) and Bank of Japan (BOJ) have made progress in enhancing the cyber resilience of the financial sector, but further work and enhancements are needed.
May 13, 2024
Japan: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note on Regulation and Supervision of Investment Funds
Description: This technical note reviews the functioning and effectiveness of the regulation, supervision, and systemic risk monitoring of investment funds in Japan. It focuses on the requirements that are directly relevant to maintaining financial stability, namely, valuation, segregation and safekeeping of fund assets, liquidity risk management and redemption of fund units. The note also reviews the efficacy with which the authorities: i) analyze and monitor the systemic risk arising from fund management activities in Japan; ii) apply the domestic regulatory framework pertinent to investment funds; and iii) supervise compliance with the regulatory framework. The note sets out a series of recommendations to further strengthen the domestic regulatory, supervisory, and risk monitoring frameworks.
May 13, 2024
Japan: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note on Financial Safety Net and Crisis Readiness
Description: Japan has made progress in improving its crisis readiness since the 2017 FSAP, and the authorities are committed to make further enhancements that are needed. Notably, the authorities have introduced loss absorbing capacity (LAC) requirements, expanded the recovery and resolution planning (RRP) perimeter to some degree, set up the Recovery and Resolution Planning Office (RRP Office), and revised the RRP guidelines for banks and financial market infrastructures (FMIs). They have also continued with annual reviews and updates of existing RRPs, advanced the work in firm-specific crisis management groups (CMGs), contributed to the workings of international standard-setting bodies, and engaged in bilateral workshops with foreign counterparts. These improvements were built on a relatively comprehensive bank resolution regime, but hands-on experience with managing bank failures and financial crises is fading in Japan, while the financial system is evolving and getting more complex, putting a premium on accelerated and expanded crisis readiness efforts.
May 13, 2024
Japan: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note on Regulation and Supervision of Fintech
Description: This technical note reviews the functioning and effectiveness of the regulation, supervision, and systemic risk monitoring of fintech in Japan. It focuses on the institutional arrangements for fintech monitoring, as well as the approach that the Japanese authorities have taken to review the regulatory perimeter around fintech-related issues, noting regulatory amendments on digital payments, banking, and crypto assets most notably. On crypto assets, the note reviews the regulatory framework in Japan, and the approach of the Financial Services Agency (FSA) to licensing and supervision of crypto exchanges. The note sets out a series of recommendations to further strengthen the domestic regulatory, supervisory, and risk monitoring frameworks.
May 13, 2024
Japan: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note on Financial Supervision and Regulation of Climate Related Issues
Description: The government of Japan has pledged to substantially reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the coming decade. Japan is among the largest greenhouse gas emitting economies in the world exposing it to significant transition risk. Although Japan’s overall exposure to physical risk is considered as very high due to the changing climate and the impact of the predicted increase in the frequency and severity of natural catastrophes, its overall vulnerability to physical risks is relatively low because of its strong capacity to cope with such risks. In accordance with the United Nations Climate Change Convention, Japan has set an interim target to reduce GHG emissions by 46 percent from 2013 levels until 2030, with an objective of achieving net-zero GHG emissions by 2050. To realize this ambitious goal, Japan enacted the Green Transformation (GX) Promotion Act in May 2023 and laid out, based on the law, a comprehensive strategy to facilitate the transition to a net zero GHG economy.
May 13, 2024
Japan: 2024 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Japan
Description: The Japanese economy continues to grow after the pandemic, with broad-based price increases following three decades of low inflation. The “new form of capitalism” agenda and children-related policies are key priorities for the Kishida administration, but the fiscal burden has increased.
May 10, 2024
Kiribati: 2024 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Kiribati
Description: Kiribati’s economy recovered strongly from the pandemic on the back of supportive fiscal measures including subsidies, grants, and (most recently) an increase in civil service wages. Inflation, which has decelerated from its recent peak, is projected to pick up again mainly due to increased domestic demand. Kiribati is among the most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change. Infrastructure gaps compound already challenging constraints imposed by distance and dispersion, limiting the development of the private sector in the state-dominated economy, and cementing its reliance on imports, especially for essential commodities such as food and fuel.