Tag - insurance

 
 

INSURANCE

A My Number card reader at a pediatric clinic in Tokyo. While the government will stop issuing new health insurance cards on Monday, most people will remain unaffected by the move in the short term as existing health insurance cards can still be used for another year.
JAPAN / Explainer
Dec 1, 2024
Don’t worry, you can still use your Japan health insurance card — for now
While the government will stop issuing new health insurance cards on Monday, there is a one-year grace period for their integration with My Number cards.
Founded in 1879, Tokio Marine was Japan's first nonlife insurance company and it has since expanded into life insurance and now has a presence in 46 countries besides Japan.
BUSINESS
Oct 18, 2024
Tokio Marine pauses sale of Southeast Asia life insurance business, sources say
The delay appears to be due to the firm's dispute with a Malaysian partner.
At least 10 firms have temporarily suspended some business activities with Nomura because of its market manipulation scandal.
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 18, 2024
Big clients halt trades with Nomura over market manipulation scandal
At least 10 firms have temporarily suspended some business activities with Japan's biggest brokerage because of the breach.
The Bank of Japan’s historic shift this year from radical monetary easing to two interest-rate hikes has sparked volatility in the nation’s securities market as investors speculate on the BOJ’s next move.
BUSINESS / Markets
Oct 17, 2024
Japan Post Insurance markets chief sees Nikkei setting new records after votes
The Nikkei's all-time high, set in July, will probably be "just a passing point,” said Kenichi Kuga, head of global equity and fixed income investment.
Analysts say Warren Buffett may be looking to buy Japanese financial firms and shipping companies.
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 3, 2024
Buffett may target Japan banks or insurers for next purchase, analysts say
The billionaire’s company this week mandated banks to manage a yen bond sale in the global market, in a sign he may increase holdings in Japan.
A burnt vehicle after a wildfire in the Baie-James region of Quebec, Canada, on June 10
ENVIRONMENT / Climate change
Sep 24, 2024
Insurance czar has ‘harsh’ message about climate: You may just have to move
Canadian insurers received 228,000 insurance claims in July and August — more than they’ve had in any summer over the past 20 years.
Pedestrians walk past the Financial Services Agency headquarters in Tokyo.
JAPAN
Aug 31, 2024
Over 2.5 million sets of info leaked from four Japan nonlife insurers
Of the total, employees on loan were found to have been involved in about 240,000 cases, including for contracts for corporate customers.
Homes surrounded by floodwaters in Steinhatchee, Florida, after Hurricane Debby made landfall on Aug. 5.
ENVIRONMENT / Climate change
Aug 10, 2024
Clashing risk predictions cast doubt on black box climate models
Insurers and investors are using private modeling tools to make risk assessments, but they have major inconsistencies.
Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance and three other insurance firms will be issued with cease-and-desist orders by the the Fair Trade Commission for forming a cartel, sources have said.
BUSINESS / Companies
Aug 6, 2024
Japan's FTC to issue orders to four major nonlife insurers in premium cartel
The insurers are said to have started prearranging premiums on contracts for Keisei Electric Railway, in which they shared the risk of covering payments, before 2020.
NEC employees attend a Japan Asset Management seminar to learn about building up financial assets.
BUSINESS / Companies / FOCUS
Jul 29, 2024
Japanese firms helping employees build up financial assets
Companies are inviting financial experts to guide employees on managing their pension plans and provide insights into the revamped NISA.
Tokyo police have arrested a 27-year-old woman for posting online personal information of a professional baseball player along with violent messages.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jul 10, 2024
Ex-Nippon Life staffer arrested over leak of Giants player's information
The suspect, Satomi Amano, has denied the charges, claiming she doesn't remember her actions due to having made “so many posts.”
Financial groups will sell Honda Motor shares worth ¥535 billion to unwind cross-shareholdings, according to a regulatory filing.
BUSINESS
Jul 4, 2024
Insurers and banks to sell Honda shares worth $3.3 billion, filing shows
The move offers a sign that the unwinding of cross-shareholdings is catching pace in Japan.
A general shareholders meeting is held at Sompo Holdings in Tokyo on Monday.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 24, 2024
Japan nonlife insurers apologize to shareholders over scandals
Leaders of three major Japanese nonlife insurers apologized at their respective general shareholders meetings over scandals rocking the industry.
The government is set to start discussing the idea of extending public health insurance coverage to include childbirth from fiscal 2026.
JAPAN
Jun 9, 2024
Japan to discuss public insurance coverage of childbirth
The average of childbirth costs across Japan stood at some ¥482,000 in fiscal 2022.
Japan Post Insurance, one of the nation’s biggest life insurers, held about ¥60.9 trillion in assets as of the end of March, of which around ¥47.7 trillion were securities, mainly government bonds.
BUSINESS / Markets
Jun 3, 2024
Japan Post goes slow in buying longest bonds after BOJ rate hike
Japan Post forecast in April that the 30-year government bond yield will be 2% at the end of March 2025
The health ministry says it will conduct its first survey on how much foreign residents are paying in health insurance and pension premiums.
JAPAN / Society
May 28, 2024
Health ministry to collect data on insurance premium payments by foreign residents
The ministry currently has no data on how much foreign nationals are paying in terms of health insurance payments and pension premiums.
Wecars President and CEO Shinjiro Tanaka (center) at a news conference in Tokyo on Wednesday
BUSINESS / Companies
May 1, 2024
New firm formed to take over Bigmotor's operations
Wecars took over around 250 outlets and some 4,200 employees from Bigmotor, and its board of directors does not include former members of Bigmotor's board.
A bill to tackle the low birthrate is passed at a Lower House plenary session on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 19, 2024
Lower House approves bill aimed at tackling low birthrate
The government plans to start collecting the fees in fiscal 2026 and gradually increase the amounts to secure ¥1 trillion annually from fiscal 2028.
Dai-ichi Life Holdings has begun to include more alternative investments in its ¥33.9 trillion portfolio, and is also looking at increasing mergers and acquisitions.
BUSINESS
Apr 18, 2024
Shifting market spurs Dai-ichi to adjust ¥33.9 trillion portfolio
The firm is cutting its holdings of domestic equities, which are surging, to avoid too much exposure to the asset class.
The Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance headquarters in Tokyo. Japan's life insurers will lay out their investment plans for the new fiscal year starting this month.
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 15, 2024
Investment plans for Japan’s insurers will likely favor JGBs
Companies will lay out their plans for the fiscal year starting this month.

Longform

People in cities across Japan will pop into their local convenience store for any number of products they believe will help them with a night of drinking.
Hangover cures are everywhere in Japan — but do they work?