#Japan #Tokyo #Cashless Society #Payment Systems #Masayuki Yamamoto

Seminar on Cashless Payments in 2025

In the ever-changing landscape of financial transactions, the shift towards a cashless society is becoming increasingly significant. On June 4, 2025, a seminar titled Exploring the Cashless Payment Landscape of 2025 Amid Global Changes will be conducted by Mr. Masayuki Yamamoto, an expert in international consulting and a lecturer at Meiji Gakuin University's School of Law. This event aims to provide a detailed overview of the existing and emerging trends in cashless payments, addressing the challenges and opportunities in this dynamic environment.

Seminar Overview

As e-commerce and digital transactions proliferate, understanding the underlying mechanisms of cashless payments is vital for businesses and consumers alike. This seminar will cover crucial topics such as:

• - The basic framework of cashless payments
• - Recent incidents affecting this industry in 2024 and their implications for the future
• - The rising cases of credit fraud, which reached an unprecedented 54 billion yen in 2023
• - The financial struggles faced by domestic credit card companies due to international customer transaction fees.

One of the highlights of this seminar will be a comprehensive analysis of the Fair Trade Commission's investigation into Visa. We will uncover how this inquiry relates to the hardships faced by domestic card companies, including accusations of imposing unreasonable conditions.

Detailed Agenda

1. Understanding International Card Brands

• - Overview of how major brands like Visa, Mastercard, and JCB operate
• - Differences between international and domestic systems
• - The roles of brand debit and prepaid cards

2. Business Models and Systems of International Cards

• - Analysis of fee structures, including merchant fees and Interchange Reimbursement Fees (IRF)
• - Trends and challenges related to IRF and merchant fees
• - Overview of payment networks including Visa and CAFIS

3. Innovations in Cashless Payment Systems

• - Exploration of mobile payments including QR code and tap payment systems
• - The intersection of digital platforms and cashless transactions

4. Key Trends to Watch

• - Escalating rates of fraudulent activities and their impact on stakeholders
• - Insights gained from the Fair Trade Commission regarding Visa
• - Ongoing considerations for policy reforms in cashless transactions
• - The rise of touch-payment systems and digital salary disbursements
• - Issues related to 'Buy Now, Pay Later’ (BNPL) schemes
• - Collaboration trends between banks and credit card firms
• - The adoption of local currencies in digital transactions
• - Relevant international news highlights

5. The Future of Cashless Payments in Japan

• - Summarizing the current state of cashless payment businesses in Japan
• - Future outlook for domestic financial institutions and credit card companies

In addition to these core topics, supplementary materials will include key terms and concepts related to notable cashless payment platforms such as PayPay, LINE Pay, au Pay, and others.

Attendance Options

Participants can choose to attend this seminar in person at the Kioi Forum in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, or join via a live stream on Zoom. Furthermore, recorded sessions will be available for two weeks, allowing flexibility for attendees to catch up on content at their convenience.

For inquiries, please contact the New Society System Research Institute, located in Minato, Tokyo. Email: [email protected] or visit SSK's official website. The seminar promises to be insightful for anyone eager to navigate the complexities of a cashless economy and harness emerging opportunities.