New Year’s Message

　In 2025, many events underscored we are at a historic turning point. On a global basis, amid rising geopolitical risks and changes in tariff policies in foreign countries, businesses have been required to consider the reconfiguration of their supply chains. Meanwhile, Japan's economy has begun to move beyond the "lost three decades." With the return to a "world of interest rates," we now have an opportunity to transition toward a "Value-creation-driven economy".
　Against this backdrop, we, the Japanese Bankers Association, positioned fiscal 2025 as "a year to contribute to accelerating Japan's growth and solving social challenges, laying the foundation for a vibrant future," and have proceed with JBA's initiatives along the following three pillars:
　The first pillar is to "accelerate the virtuous cycle of growth and distribution through revitalization of the investment chain". To encourage corporate investment and support funding needs - the key driver of growth - we have established "the Working Group on the Future of Mid- and Long-Term Financial Intermediation" in June 2025, engaging in substantive discussions with leading experts, authorities, and financial intermediaries. In October, during the "Japan Weeks" hosted by the Japanese government, we organized an event with the theme of attracting overseas investment. Looking ahead to the implementation of the Act on the Promotion of Cash Flow-Based Lending this year, we have formulated "key guidelines for utilizing Enterprise Value Charge" to help member banks make effective use of the new framework.
　To promote household investment, we are actively making requests to relevant authorities related to the new NISA and iDeCo, advancing financial and economic education, and ensuring implementation of customer-oriented business conduct.
　The second pillar is the "realization of a safe, secure, convenient, and modern financial infrastructure". We are working to complete the full transition to digitizing bills and checks, reducing costs and risks while improving productivity. Furthermore, we are ensuring stable operations of the Zengin System, while operating the API gateway launched in November 2025 and developing the 8th-generation Zengin System.
　In addition, under the Zengin-Net, we have established "the Study Group on the Future Vision of the Payment Systems" and continued discussions on the optimal structure and medium- to long-term vision for payment systems.
　The third pillar is "maintenance and enhancement of a sound, resilient, and responsible financial system". In the area of anti-money laundering, through the Cooperation agency for Anti-Money Laundering, we have launched an AI-based scoring service. Financial crimes, including special fraud, have become increasingly diverse and sophisticated, heightening societal demands for stronger preventive measures. Beyond efforts at individual banks, we are also working to establish a framework for sharing information on fraudulent accounts among financial institutions. In addition, through industry-wide and public-private initiatives - such as producing and distributing awareness videos on the illegality of buying and selling a deposit bank account - we continue to promote measures aimed at ensuring safe and secure financial transactions.
　Looking ahead to 2026, while close attention must be paid to global economic trends and the impact of tariff, I expect Japan's economy to continue growing, supported by increased investment in production facilities, research and development, and human capital. As the Japanese government has announced policy to formulate public-private investment plans across 17 strategic sectors, I am encouraged by the fact that strengthening the supply side of the economy has also been positioned as an important theme.
　According to the Chinese zodiac, 2026 is the year of the Fire Horse ( 丙午: Hinoe-Uma ) and is regarded as "the year in which traditional forces wane while new momentum emerges." The banking industry is committed to ensuring that this year becomes one in which our customers and Japan's economy move forward with transformation - driven by fresh perspectives and strong momentum - laying the foundation for a future.