Risks and Opportunities for Japanese Banks in an Era of Abenomics and Financial Reform

Discussion: Japanese banks, some of the largest in the world, are playing a critical role in the new “Abenomics” reform efforts of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. What opportunities, both domestically and internationally, does this provide to the banks? What are the risks they face, not just in Japan but in the region, as structural and policy changes are also implemented in China, Korea, and throughout Asia? How are Japanese mega-banks faring in the global marketplace as regulatory reforms are instituted in the wake of the financial crisis?

Jonathan Cornish
Head of Bank Ratings – North Asia
Fitch Ratings

About Jonathan Cornish: Jonathan Cornish assumed the position of Head of Bank Ratings – North Asia in February 2010 and is responsible for all bank ratings in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Mongolia. He is a Managing Director in the Financial Institutions group, and since September 2010 has been Head of the Hong Kong office.

Jonathan moved to Fitch’s Bank team following more than three years as a Senior Director in the Credit Policy Group, reporting to the Regional Credit Officer for Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific. He served in both London and Hong Kong, and was responsible for oversight of all corporate and public finance analytical groups plus the sovereign analytical group, portfolio analysis, credit market research, reviewing of rating criteria and methodology, as well as oversight of the structured finance analytical group in the final year of his tenure.

Jonathan joined Fitch Ratings in 1998, and was a Senior Director in the Asia-Pacific Corporate Ratings Group, Regional Head of the Telecom, Media and Technology analytical team, and was initially based in Fitch’s Brisbane office covering the Australian corporate ratings market.

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