Survey Launched by Sangofu Platforms to Assess Corporate Pension Fund Operations

Understanding the Landscape of Corporate Pension Fund Operations

Sangofu Platforms, headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo, recently launched a comprehensive survey aimed at shedding light on the current operational frameworks of corporate pension funds across Japan. This initiative seeks to gather insights directly from key personnel such as executive directors, administrative officers, and operational staff involved in the management of pension funds.

Background of the Survey

The role of corporate pension funds is pivotal in supporting the financial futures of their members. As a crucial social infrastructure, they contribute significantly to retirement asset formation. However, operational teams in this field are facing numerous challenges, including:

- Aging Workforce and Succession Issues: There is a growing concern regarding the aging of personnel responsible for these funds and the lack of successors. This generational gap poses a risk to the sustainability of operations.
- Difficulty in Securing Specialized Talent: The high level of expertise required in managing pension fund operations is making it challenging to recruit and retain skilled professionals.
- Instability in Small Operational Teams: Many funds operate with fewer staff, which raises concerns about their capacity to maintain stable operations.

Despite the importance of these challenges, there is a dearth of statistical data that truly captures the operational realities faced by professionals in this sector. Consequently, a lack of shared knowledge persists regarding the current state of operations in the field.

To address this issue, Sangofu Platforms aims to collect qualitative data by soliciting the opinions and experiences of those directly involved in pension fund management, with the goal of visualizing the overarching challenges within the industry.

Survey Overview

The survey titled "Corporate Pension Fund Operational Survey" will focus on critical areas such as:

- The perceived adequacy of operational staff
- Workload and operational challenges
- The difficulty of recruiting and replacing personnel
- Current operational structures and future projections
- Open comments for additional insights

Participation Details

- Method: Online survey
- Response Period: February 2, 2026 – February 27, 2026
- Survey Link: Corporate Pension Fund Survey

Unique Features of the Survey

- Questions designed based on the firsthand experiences of operational leaders and staff.
- Collection of comparable statistical data across the industry to facilitate cross-sectional analysis.
- Neutral evaluation of operational issues to contribute to a better understanding of challenges faced.

Importantly, all responses will be treated statistically, ensuring anonymity and preventing the identification of individual funds or respondents when reporting the data.

Future Plans

The findings from this survey will be compiled and analyzed, with results expected to be published in a report in Spring 2026. It is anticipated that this document will serve as foundational material for enhancing operational practices, fostering talent development, and establishing sustainable frameworks within corporate pension funds.

Comments from Company Leadership

Kentarou Oguma, CEO of Sangofu Platforms, expressed: "The management of corporate pension funds is a role that demands expertise and accountability. Nonetheless, the existing state of these operations is often inadequately understood. We hope that through this survey, we can illuminate the voices of practitioners and contribute to the development of improved operational structures in the industry."