Our Contacts In Japan, a company's "main bank" has traditionally been its key source of funds In fact, for many Japanese firms, a main bank is much more than that: it's a full-fledged business partner.  As banks unravel their holdings of public corporations, these strong ties have inevitably weakened. Nevertheless, most Japanese firms still consider their main bank an essential business resource.  Japanese commercial banks have in-depth knowledge of their customers and their operations that extends well beyond mere credit analysis.  With many years of experience in Japan's corporate banking sector – including stints at IBJ, informally known as "Japan's Corporate Banker," and Sumitomo Bank – we can draw on a wealth of contacts at the main banks of Japanese firms. This gives us strong links to financial professionals who know the inner workings of Japanese companies. Nihon Equity Research also has sturdy, enduring relationships with Japanese consulting and IR firms that specialize in advising small public companies, as well as boutique investment banks and leading investment funds. These resources provide us with a unique flow of information and uncommon insight into the operations of Japanese companies. Our Background One of the toughest jobs a fund manager has is managing information. It's especially difficult in a niche like smaller Japanese stocks. Some data is available in English, but a lot of it is only in Japanese. Thus equity research of smaller Japanese stocks requires fully bilingual analysts who can rummage through all the data and cull what's useful.    Moreover, Japan remains unique. It is true that Japanese business is becoming more Westernized and more transparent. But it is still highly distinctive, full of idiosyncrasies and quirks. Nihon Equity Research can operate with total ease within both Japanese and Western business cultures.  We are completely conversant with the current business climate in Japan, and we build on that knowledge to forecast the near-future economic, regulatory, and social trends that influence Japanese stock performance.  We have excellent access to the most relevant information resources, including those usually available only to Japanese insiders. And we know how to use that information to produce profitable investment ideas and communicate them to Western audiences. Our Knowledge The principals of Nihon Equity research are consummate financial professionals. We come from Top Ten MBA programs and have more than 40 years of combined financial and business experience. We have put in many years at some of the leading financial institutions in Japan and the U.S., including, besides IBJ and Sumitomo Bank, Morgan Stanley and Daiwa Securities. We are unusually well qualified to apply Western-style fundamental analysis to Japanese equities, while at the same time being sensitive to the Keisen (stock chart) analysis that has traditionally guided Japanese investors. With our widespread contacts, extensive background, and in-depth knowledge of the Japanese financial world, we can offer superior equity research services that meet our clients' needs.