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Asset Management One's Contribution to the 15th Japan DC Forum

On July 17, 2026, Asset Management One, headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, proudly supported and participated in the 15th Japan DC Forum, organized by the Non-Profit Organization for Defined Contribution Pension Education. This forum focused on crucial issues surrounding the reform of the DC system and the transparency of corporate pension information, including significant insights for iDeCo participants.

The forum featured a panel discussion addressing product design and asset formation strategies, alongside talks on the current state and future prospects of the DC system in Japan. One of the pivotal discussions included the introduction of advanced governance and educational approaches aimed at changing the behavior of plan participants.

In collaboration with T. Rowe Price Japan, Asset Management One held a panel discussion titled "Identifying Japan's Challenges Compared to Global Standards - Insights from the DC Five Country Survey and Realities from Advanced Companies." The first half of the session was led by Yusuke Yokokawa, a retirement specialist from T. Rowe Price Japan's Institutional Investor Advisory Department. He shared critical analysis results from a cross-national survey conducted in Japan, the U.S., the UK, Australia, and Canada, highlighting retirement asset formation practices in the U.S.

The latter half of the panel featured Masako Ito, head of the Future Nurture Research Institute at Asset Management One, who presented insights from a survey conducted among employees from five Japanese companies participating in the project. This segment aimed to elucidate the current status and challenges within Japan's DC system. Based on these findings, discussions were held on how corporate efforts in financial and economic education could potentially enhance employee engagement, alongside strategies to assist employees struggling with asset formation.

As Japan continues to advance reforms in the NISA (Nippon Individual Savings Account) program, updates to the DC and iDeCo systems are also underway. Notably, an increase in contributions is scheduled for December this year, with plans for enhanced transparency for DC participants' information anticipated around fiscal year 2027. During the forum, the enthusiasm was palpable, with many attendees expressing keen interest by actively engaging at Asset Management One's booth after the panel discussions concluded.

Asset Management One remains committed to expanding its product lineup to cater to diverse investment needs while bolstering information dissemination and support structures for stakeholders. The company aims to collaborate with business operators and management organizations related to DC systems across Japan, promoting further adoption of defined contribution pension plans and facilitating the shift from savings to asset formation.

For more details about the 15th Japan DC Forum, visit Japan DC Forum.