Visa Hosts First B2B Forum in Japan to Explore Card Payment Trends

Visa B2B Forum 2025: A New Era for Business Transactions

On November 6, 2025, Visa Worldwide Japan Inc. hosted its first-ever "Visa B2B Forum" in Tokyo, shedding light on the trends and future outlook of B2B card payments. This pivotal seminar attracted over 50 companies, primarily focusing on regional banks and their associated credit card entities that issue Visa cards. Participants engaged in discussions about the growing potential of card payments in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), shared insights to accelerate the adoption of B2B card payments, and explored the latest services provided by Visa.

Japan’s B2B transaction landscape exceeds an astonishing ¥1,000 trillion annually. However, a staggering 99% of these transactions are still settled through traditional bank transfers, revealing an underdeveloped card payment adoption of less than 1%. Research conducted by Visa in September 2025 highlights that over 30% of domestic SMEs primarily choose local banks as their main banking partner. This strong customer base and trust in regional banks reflect their potential role in increasing card transaction volumes, which currently only represent a limited market share.

Visa believes that deepening collaboration with local banks is crucial in propelling the cashless movement among SMEs. By promoting B2B card payments in partnership with these banks, Visa aims to create new revenue opportunities for local banks and benefits like improved expense management and cash flow for SMEs. This collaborative growth could significantly contribute to the prosperity of both sectors.

Overview of the Visa B2B Forum

At the forum, Visa's Executive Director of Corporate Solutions, Kaito Matsuda, elaborated on the dynamics of the corporate card market, while Directors Junji Hosoya and Hiroyuki Nozuka presented case studies alongside Visa's solutions. They also highlighted findings from a recent white paper underscoring the significance of B2B payments, revealing substantial cost reductions and revenue increases tied to the implementation of card payments.

Guest speakers from companies that specialize in providing innovative services aimed at SMEs were also present, including Mr. Kyo Hanada from EFP Inc., who discussed strategies for promoting corporate credit cards to SMEs. Meanwhile, Mr. Hiroaki Mizuno from LayerX detailed future possibilities through AI agents, addressing back-office challenges faced by small businesses. Naoki Furukawa, COO and co-founder of Emerada, presented insights on establishing corporate cards as clients’ primary payment method, enhancing participants' understanding of the challenges and potential in promoting card payments for SMEs.

The enthusiastic feedback from attendees affirmed the seminar’s success. Many participants commented that it was an excellent opportunity to learn about the latest B2B trends, expressing eagerness to implement actionable strategies promptly. Visa plans to continue sharing valuable information with its clients and expanding awareness regarding services tailored for SMEs.

Visa envisions contributing further to Japan's SME cashless transformation alongside local banks, ultimately fostering regional vitality.

1: Data is derived from Yano Research Institute's "Credit Card Market Trends and Outlook (2024)" and the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry's "Market Survey on E-Commerce (FY 2023)."
2: Conducted by Macromill Inc.

About Visa

Visa stands as a global leader in electronic payments, connecting consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and governments across over 200 countries and regions. Its mission is to unite the world with the most innovative, convenient, reliable, and secure payment network, contributing to the prosperity of individuals, businesses, and economies. Visa believes that inclusive economies improve lives, and access to payment systems is key to shaping the future of transactions. For further details, visit Visa.com (English) or www.visa.co.jp (Japanese).