Establishment of a "Retail Finance" Endowed Chair at the Graduate School of Economics, The University of Tokyo

The University of Tokyo and Rakuten Securities will establish an endowed chair in Retail Finance in April 2026.
partnershipNQ 63/100出典：PR Times

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  • 📰 Published: March 30, 2026 at 19:00
  • 🔍 Collected: March 30, 2026 at 22:56 (3h 56m after Published)
  • 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 16, 2026 at 08:37 (393h 41m after Collected)

The University of Tokyo (Headquarters: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, President: Teruo Fujii, hereinafter referred to as "The University of Tokyo") and Rakuten Securities, Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President and CEO: Yuji Kusunoki, hereinafter referred to as "Rakuten Securities") are pleased to announce the establishment of an endowed chair in "Retail Finance" at the Graduate School of Economics and Faculty of Economics, The University of Tokyo, effective April 1, 2026 (Wednesday). The period of establishment will be three years, from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2029.


This chair aims to foster the sound development of personal asset building and management in Japan by investigating and analyzing the current state of the retail finance field, including financial products and services for general households and individuals, both in Japan and globally, and by clarifying institutional and practical challenges. It also aims to promote foundational and practical education to achieve these goals.

Background and Research Content

With the shift towards a 100-year lifespan and the increasing importance of household asset building and management, this chair will explore potential improvements in institutional aspects such as practices, regulations, and taxation, in line with the transition from savings to asset building and investment. It will also consider the changes and challenges brought about by digitalization and the advancement of AI in the financial industry. Furthermore, the research will include empirical analysis of household savings and investment behavior, as well as the impact of structural changes in household asset building and management on corporate financing and capital circulation.

Expected Outcomes

This chair will clarify the ideal financial system for the development of retail finance and examine concrete improvement proposals for policies related to regulations and taxation, as well as rules at the industry association level, such as corporate governance. Through symposia and other events, it will promote dialogue among industry, government, and academia, contributing to the formation of social consensus.

In terms of education, it will support "Finance II," a key subject in the Faculty of Economics at The University of Tokyo, providing students with foundational knowledge of finance connecting households and corporations, and enhancing learning opportunities with practical connections.

Comments

Kenichi Ueda, Professor at the Graduate School of Economics and Director of the Center for Financial Education and Research, The University of Tokyo, commented:

"This endowed chair will be operated by the Center for Financial Education and Research affiliated with the Graduate School of Economics, where I serve as Director, and I expect it to deepen research in retail finance. I am confident that it will mutually stimulate the various cutting-edge financial research being conducted at our center, leading to advancements not only in retail finance but also in finance as a whole. Furthermore, I hope that students in the Faculty of Economics will correctly understand the current wave of change from savings to asset building and investment, and that future leaders of the financial industry will be nurtured."

Chair Overview

  • Period of Establishment: April 1, 2026 – March 31, 2029 (3 years)

  • Chair Name: Retail Finance

  • Department: Graduate School of Economics and Faculty of Economics, The University of Tokyo

  • Donor: Rakuten Securities, Inc.

Overview of The University of Tokyo

Overview of Rakuten Securities, Inc.