Strategic challenges of the Japanese investment banking industry

Abstract

Since the collapse of the bubble economy in 1990, Japanese securities houses have suffered serious damage and have not been able to keep up with the progress of the global investment banking industry. During this period, foreign investment banks have grown rapidly, diversified the coverage of business, and expanded to the global market. Japanese investment banks were first developed in the late 1990s, after the "lost decade". They have competed with Japanese and foreign rivals mainly in the domestic market. This thesis explores both the external and internal strategic challenges confronting a Japanese investment bank seeking to survive and become a global player in the industry. First it confirms the findings of a recent stuffy of the Japanese investment banking industry and then explores two key lessons learned from historical experience in U.K. and U.S. financial markets. The current policy of Japanese government is also reviewed. With regard to the analysis of future challenges of Japanese investment banks, this thesis employs the game approach to understanding external challenges while the learning approach is applied to better understand internal challenges.