Financial Services Agency

About JAPAN FSA

The Financial Services Agency is Japan’s central government authority responsible for financial regulation, supervision and financial-system policy. It was established on 1 July 2000 through the merger of the Financial Supervisory Agency and the Financial System Planning Bureau of the Ministry of Finance. The agency supervises banks, securities companies, insurance companies, Financial Instruments Business Operators, asset managers, cryptocurrency exchange service providers and other regulated financial institutions. Its responsibilities include licensing and registration, prudential supervision, market conduct oversight, inspections, enforcement actions and the development of financial regulations. For retail forex and derivative services, firms must hold the appropriate registration under Japan’s Financial Instruments and Exchange Act. The exact activities permitted depend on the firm’s registration category and recorded permissions. The regulatory framework includes capital requirements, customer-asset segregation, risk disclosure, conduct standards and restrictions intended to protect retail clients. The Financial Services Agency also publishes lists of registered institutions and warnings concerning firms that appear to conduct financial instruments business in Japan without the required registration. Consumers may submit enquiries through the Counseling Office for Financial Services Users, while eligible disputes may also be handled through Japan’s financial ADR framework.