17th Annual CITIC CLSA Japan Forum 2021 opens today
Over 600 investors and 150 corporates to meet on CLSA’s virtual platform

Tokyo

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Tokyo – 24 May 2021: The 17th CITIC CLSA Japan Forum opens today. Held virtually for the second year running, this invitation-only event will connect more than 600 global investors from 24 countries, 150 leading corporations and 40 international opinion formers in academia, macroeconomics, and new industries, on CLSA’s bespoke digital platform.

Since its inception in 2004, the CITIC CLSA Japan Forum has become a must-attend event for international and domestic institutional investors looking to gain direct access to corporate Japan. In addition to deep corporate access with over 700 private meetings, the Forum comprises four full days of webinars featuring CLSA’s award-winning equity analysts, economists and strategists and expert guest speakers who will explore differentiated and topical themes spanning:

  • Digitalisation: Japan’s got agency
  • The new normal: Adaptation across the value chain
  • Constructive engagement: Unlocking value in Japan
  • Auto-evolution: The case for innovation
  • Consumption redemption: Domestic reopening and overseas development
  • Automation: Intelligent development

Oliver Matthew, Head of CLSA Japan and Head of Consumer Research, said: “Content is key to differentiate our forums from other industry events. This year’s line-up of opinion formers will challenge received ideas and reveal what the post-Covid new normal will look like from a societal, corporate and technological perspective.”

As per tradition, Eric Fishwick, CLSA’s Chief Economist, will open the 2021 Japan Forum presenting his views on regional growth and inflation in the context of the US fiscal stimulus, continued rapid early-cycle trade growth and what this means for the reflation trade. Hot on his heels, Nicholas Smith’s upbeat Japan strategy session will look at value stocks in Japan post-Covid, ESG, politics and much more.

With ESG and engagement at the top of the agenda, Chief Financial Officer at Eisai and a visiting professor at Waseda University Dr Ryohei Yanagi and Financial Times Tokyo Correspondent Leo Lewis, will explore the most recent developments in corporate governance in Japan.

On the theme of digitalisation, the CEO of Kantan Games, Dr Serkan Toto, will talk delegates through the history and future growth potential of the US$14bn Japan mobile-gaming market, the largest mobile-games market in the world. Manabu Miyasaka, Deputy Governor, CIO of Tokyo Metropolitan Government, will discuss the digitalisation of Tokyo as a global financial centre.

On the auto-evolution and automation day, two eminent scientists will present their vision for the future of their respective industries. Dr David Hart, Director of sustainable energy consultancy E4tech, will reveal whether hydrogen can live up to its hype; Henrik Christensen, Director of Robotics at UC San Diego, will present megatrends in robotics and automation and outline new business drivers for a post-Covid-19 society.

Analysing some of Japan and Asia’s hottest sectors, CLSA’s Regional Head of Consumer Research Oliver Matthew will give an update on the key impacts that Gen Z is having on Asian consumption. Ken Shin, Head of Asia Energy Research, will outline the development of battery technologies and key areas of interest in the global EV market, such as the automotive-chip shortage and Volkswagen’s big battery investment plan. Head of China Reality Research Lance Noble will present proprietary data-based insights into the latest China consumer and industrial themes as well as related policy developments that matter most for Japanese firms, including on sportswear, travel, industrial automation, young consumers and consumer tech.

Kai Kaufmann, CLSA’s Head of Corporate Access & Client Strategy, commented: “Our state-of-the-art virtual corporate access platform will once again enable international investors to connect with some of Japan’s leading public and private corporations at the click of a button.”

The 17th CITIC CLSA Japan Forum will be held digitally from 24 to 28 May 2021.

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