What’s New on the FSA Website

Week of January 19 -January 23, 2015

This page contains the latest in events, developments, and updates to the FSA website.

Press Conferences

January 21, 2014:	Press Conference by the Minister for Financial Services (January 20, 2015) Japanese version
January 19, 2015:	Press Conference by the Minister for Financial Services (January 16, 2015) (Available in Japanese)

Public Comment

(The following public comment is available in Japanese)

January 23, 2015:

Results of public comments on a cabinet order on the revision of the FSA-related cabinet order associated with the enforcement of the "Act for partial revision of the Companies Act" «Summary» The FSA published the results of public comments on a cabinet order on the revision of the FSA-related cabinet order associated with the enforcement of the "Act for partial revision of the Companies Act." The cabinet order will be enforced on May 1, 2015.

Press Releases

(The Following press releases are available in Japanese)

Securities

January 23，2015:

Updated list of qualified institutional investors engaging in a specially permitted business who are operating financial instruments business without proper registration (Kanto Local Finance Bureau) «Summary» The FSA (Kanto Local Finance Bureau) issued warnings to qualified institutional investors engaging in a specially permitted business who are operating financial instruments business without proper registration.

January 16, 2015:

Publication of amendments to the "Cabinet Office Ordinance on Financial Instruments Business" «Summary» The FSA published amendments to the "Cabinet Office Ordinance on Financial Instruments Business" pursuant to the enforcement of the "Act for Partial Revision of the Act on Promotion of Sediment Disaster Countermeasures for Sediment Disaster Prone Areas."

Banks

January 20, 2015:

Publication of an additional case in the Supplement to the Financial Inspection Manual: Treatment of Classifications Regarding Credit to Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises «Summary» The FSA published an additional case in the Supplement to the Financial Inspection Manual: Treatment of Classifications Regarding Credit to Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises based on the Comprehensive Strategy for Community Development, Human Resource Development, and Job Creation, which was decided by the Cabinet on December 27, 2014.

Councils

January 22, 2015:	Publication of the agenda and handouts of the ninth meeting of the Study Group on Payments and Transaction Banking of the Financial System Council «Summary» The FSA published the agenda and handouts of the ninth meeting of the Study Group on Payments and Transaction Banking of the Financial System Council, which was held on January 21, 2015.
January 19, 2015:	Publication of the agenda and handouts of the sixth meeting of the Working Group on Investment Management of the Financial System Council «Summary» The FSA published the agenda and handouts of the sixth meeting of the Working Group on Investment Management of the Financial System Council, which was held on January 19, 2015.

Insurance

January 16, 2015:

Administrative action against Prevent Holdings Co., Ltd. and Prevent Small Amount and Short Term Insurance Co., Ltd. (Tohoku Local Finance Bureau) «Summary» On January 16, 2015, the Tohoku Local Finance Bureau took an administrative action against Prevent Holdings Co., Ltd. and Prevent Small Amount and Short Term Insurance Co., Ltd., requiring these firms to improve its operation pursuant to the Insurance Business Act. Based on its research, Tohoku Local Finance Bureau found that there are serious concerns with regard to the compliance and business management of these firms.

Others

January 23, 2015:	Updated list of issuers of gift certificates in repayment procedures based on the "Payment Services Act" «Summary» The FSA updated the list of issuers who are repaying, have completed repaying or have announced the termination of use of prepaid payment instruments, as defined in the "Payment Services Act" (e.g. gift vouchers, gift certificates, and prepaid cards).
January 23, 2015:	Revision of the Action Plan on Fostering CPAs and People who Passed the CPA Exam and Expanding their Fields of Activity «Summary» The FSA held a forum aimed at expanding the fields of activity for CPAs and people who passed the CPA examination. The Action Plan on Fostering CPAs and People who Passed the CPA Exam and Expanding their Fields of Activity was revised by reflecting opinions among Certified Public Accountants and Auditing Oversight Board, Japanese Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Keidanren, and four financial organizations.
January 19, 2015:	Publication of “Financial Measures in Response to the Report of the Subspecies of Highly Pathogenic Bird Flu” (Fukuoka Local Finance Bureau) «Summary» On January 19, the Fukuoka Local Finance Bureau issued the statement “Financial Measures in Response to the Report of the Subspecies of Highly Pathogenic Bird Flu” to relevant financial institutions. The statement requests financial institutions to deal appropriately with applications for new loans or changes of loan terms from customers affected by the bird flu epidemic.
January 19, 2015:	"Symposium to improve financial literacy (knowledge and judgment skills)" to be held in Takamatsu City «Summary» On February 6, 2015, the FSA and Shikoku Local Finance Bureau will jointly hold the "Symposium to improve financial literacy (knowledge and judgment skills)" in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture. The symposium is aimed to encourage each person to enhance financial knowledge and judgment skills to improve household management and life-planning, and to lead an economically independent and better life.
January 13, 2015:	Updated list of warnings of entities that are operating money lending business without proper registration «Summary» The FSA (Local Finance Bureaus) issued warnings of entities that are operating money lending business without proper registration. The warning includes the updated list of entities who introduce themselves with fictitious or stolen registration numbers.