ESOP - International Center, HOSEI

ESOP > Course Description Guide > 2010-2011 Spring > The Contemporary Japanese Financial System I

The Contemporary Japanese Financial System I

- Banking and Credit -

John REILLY

A6931/101101

2 Credits

Goal/Theme:

An examination of the contemporary Japanese commercial banking and credit sectors and the interaction of its main participants: financial institutions, corporations, government regulatory and supervisory bodies, industry associations, politicians and the general public.

Course Description:

Japan's financial system seems to have recovered from the "Lost Decade" of the 1990s following the bursting of the Bubble Economy in 1989. Commercial banks have addressed the non-performing loan problem and are actively looking for opportunities to grow their domestic and international businesses. The course will look at the structure and characteristics of the contemporary banking and credit sectors, main domestic and international participants, Japanese bank involvement in global banking markets and regulatory reform initiatives. Planned are a field trip to the Bank of Japan and a meeting with a senior executive from an international bank operating in the Japanese market.

Schedule:

Class 1: Course Introduction and Overview
The Japanese Financial System: Historical Perspective, Current Conditions and Role of Banking and Credit in the Economy
Class 2: Development of the Post-World War II Japanese Financial System and Structure of the Contemporary Banking and Credit Sectors
Class 3: Bank of Japan: Role of the Central Bank
Class 4: Field Trip to Bank of Japan
Class 5: Banking and Credit Sectors Regulation: Role of the Financial Services Agency and Other apanese Government Bodies
Class 6: Corporate and Consumer Banking Products and Services
Class 7: Midterm Group Report and Presentation
Class 8: Activities of Japanese Banks at Home and Abroad
Class 9: Activities of International Banks in Japan
Class 10: Activities of Consumer Finance, Credit Card and other Non-bank Credit Providing Institutions
Class 11: Guest Speaker and Q&A
Class 12: Japan Post Bank: The World's Largest Financial Institution
Class 13: Reform of Japan's Financial Services Industry and Future Developments in the Banking and Credit Sectors
Class 14: Final Examination

Textbooks:

The instructor will utilize material from a variety of academic, financial media, Japanese government and financial industry sources.

References:

Selected Course Materials:

-Columbia University: "Herd Behavior by Japanese Banks After Financial Deregulation in the 1980s"
-Financial Services Agency: "Financial Services Agency"
-Financial Services Agency: "Program for Further Financial Reform-Japan's Challenge: Moving toward a Financial Services Nation"
-Financial Services Agency: "Report by the First Subcommittee of the Sectional Committee on Financial System of the Financial System Council: Toward Building Reliable and Vibrant Markets"
-Harvard Business School: "Japanese Financial System: From Postwar to the New Millennium"
-Harvard Business School: "Japanese Banking: Crisis and Reform"
-Japanese Bankers Association: "The Banking System in Japan"

Selected Reference Websites:

-Deposit Insurance Corporation: www.dic.go.jp/english
-Financial Services Agency:: www.fsa.go.jp/en
-International Bankers Association: www.ibajapan.org
-Investment Trusts Association of Japan: www.toushin.or.jp/english
-Japanese Bankers Association: www.zenginkyo.or.jp/en
-Japan Post Bank: www.jp-bank.japanpost.jp/en_index.html
-Japan Securities Dealers Association: www.jsda.or.jp/html/eigo
-Ministry of Finance: www.mof.go.jp/english
-Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry: www.meti.go.jp/english
-Prime Minister of Japan and Cabinet: www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/index-e.html
-Tokyo Stock Exchange: www.tse.or.jp/english

Grading Criteria:

Students will be evaluated on class participation - attendance, class participation, discussions, group work, etc. - (20%); a midterm group report and presentation (30%); and a final examination (50%).