Delegates gained insights from industry leaders, including the Japan Financial Services Agency (JFSA), Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), Asuene, SoftBank’s ThinkAR and Sony Ventures Corporation, each addressing how businesses can leverage innovation to drive meaningful impact. Regulatory Innovation at JFSA: Balancing compliance and fintech growth The day commenced with a session by the Japan Financial Services Agency (JFSA), where Ryosuke Ushida, chief fintech officer, outlined Japan’s evolving regulatory approach to fintech, digital asset and AI-driven financial services. He emphasised how JFSA is fostering innovation while maintaining stability, consumer protection and financial integrity. Key topics included Japan’s role in shaping global financial regulations, anti-money laundering (AML) and financial crime compliance, and how regulatory frameworks can support responsible innovation in artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain and digital payments. The discussion provided delegates with an in-depth understanding of how financial institutions can navigate regulatory landscapes while driving innovation. Sustainable finance and decarbonisation accounting at SMBC The tour continued at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), one of Japan’s largest financial institutions, which has made sustainability a core pillar of its strategy. Shinsuke Fujii, joint general manager of SMBC's sustainable solution department, led the discussion, exploring SMBC’s approach to sustainable finance, green bonds and ESG-linked loans, highlighting how the bank integrates environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into its decision-making. As financial institutions face increasing pressure to align with global sustainability goals, SMBC's role in supporting corporate transitions to lower carbon footprints was a focal point of the session. Complementing this discussion was a presentation by Megumi Nanya from Asuene, a leading provider of sustainability accounting solutions. She outlined how companies are adopting carbon footprint measurement and impact accounting to track their decarbonisation progress. Asuene’s approach facilitates accurate carbon accounting, providing industry and financial institutions with the necessary data to develop decarbonisation strategies and meet regulatory requirements. Delegates engaged in discussions on how corporates and financial institutions can quantify and mitigate carbon risks, a growing concern for businesses worldwide. AI-powered wearables and AR innovation at ThinkAR The study tour then shifted to ThinkAR, an AI and augmented reality (AR) company backed by SoftBank. Paul Jones, CEO of ThinkAR, presented the company’s full-stack wearable ecosystem, integrating AI-driven biometric authentication, augmented reality interfaces and next-generation human-machine interaction. The session explored how AI-powered wearables can enhance security, customer experience and remote engagement in financial services. Delegates discussed the broader implications of AI-driven personalisation in banking and how immersive technologies like AR can redefine service delivery models in finance and beyond. Corporate venture capital and investment strategies at Sony Ventures Corporation The next session took delegates inside Sony Innovation Fund, where Yasuo Sugano, senior director of portfolio management, and Eriko Kawasaki, venture capitalist at Sony Ventures Corporation, provided insights into Sony’s strategic investment approach. The discussion focused on how corporate venture capital (CVC) can serve as a driver of disruptive innovation, with Sony Innovation Fund investing across deep tech, entertainment, fintech, enterprise SaaS and climate tech. Sony’s investment philosophy centres on identifying transformational companies that align with its broader business ecosystem. Unlike traditional venture capital firms, Sony Innovation Fund provides its portfolio companies with access to Sony’s extensive global network, technological expertise and industry insights to accelerate their growth. Delegates explored how financial institutions can apply similar corporate venture investment models to foster fintech and sustainability-driven innovation. Day 3 reinforced how financial institutions and corporations can leverage innovation to address global challenges, from sustainable finance to venture capital investment strategies and AI-driven solutions. The sessions provided tangible insights into how companies are reshaping their approaches to ESG, regulatory compliance, innovation financing and strategic investments.
