Starting in January, individuals who invest in stocks and investment trusts in a Nippon Individual Savings Account will be eligible for tax exemptions of up to five years on their financial gains. The new instrument is aimed at getting people used to accumulating financial assets via small-scale investments.

Modeled after Britain's Individual Saving Account, the new program will be geared toward younger people.

As of 2012, 1 in 4 households with two members or more had no savings or other financial assets, including stocks, investment trusts, insurance or pensions, according to government statistics.