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<p>Mizuho Securities has successfully deployed "Devin," an autonomous AI software engineer, created by US-based Cognition AI. The initiative was led by ULS Consulting and marks the first large-scale adoption of the technology by a major Japanese financial institution, signaling a significant shift toward AI-driven development in the country's securities broking sector.</p><div class="kg-card kg-signup-card kg-width-regular " style="background-color:#F0F0F0;display:none"> <div class="kg-signup-card-content"> <div class="kg-signup-card-text kg-align-center"> <h2 class="kg-signup-card-heading" style="color:#000000"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">Sign up for Japan FinTech Observer</span></h2> <p class="kg-signup-card-subheading" style="color:#000000"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">Cutting through the noise of Japanese Finance &amp; FinTech</span></p> <div class="kg-signup-card-fields"> <input class="kg-signup-card-input" id="email" type="email" required="true" placeholder="Your email" /> <button class="kg-signup-card-button kg-style-accent" style="color:#FFFFFF" type="submit"> <span class="kg-signup-card-button-default">Subscribe</span> <span class="kg-signup-card-button-loading"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="24" width="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24"> <circle cx="4" cy="12" r="3"></circle> <circle cx="12" cy="12" r="3"></circle> <circle cx="20" cy="12" r="3"></circle> </svg></span> </button> </div> <div class="kg-signup-card-success" style="color:#000000"> Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. </div> <div class="kg-signup-card-error" style="color:#000000"></div> <p class="kg-signup-card-disclaimer" style="color:#000000"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.</span></p> </div> </div> </div><h3 id="strategic-ai-investment"><strong>Strategic AI Investment</strong></h3><p>The deployment is part of a broader push by Mizuho Financial Group, which has committed to investing up to 100 billion yen in AI-related initiatives between fiscal years 2026 and 2028. Facing a chronic shortage of engineering talent and a need for greater business agility, Mizuho Securities is leveraging generative AI to fundamentally overhaul its system development processes.</p><p>According to the company, the decision to adopt Devin followed a successful trial period initiated in September 2025, which confirmed substantial productivity gains. Full-scale operations are scheduled to commence in April 2026.</p><h3 id="uls-consulting%E2%80%99s-role"><strong>ULS Consulting’s Role</strong></h3><p>Leveraging over two decades of experience in developing and maintaining Mizuho’s information systems, ULS Consulting led the integration project. The firm worked in close coordination with US-based Cognition AI—the creator of Devin—to establish a dedicated environment that meets the strict security standards required by financial institutions.</p><p>In addition to technical implementation, ULS Consulting is providing comprehensive support, including the redesign of development workflows and the formulation of usage guidelines to maximize the efficacy of the AI workforce.</p><h3 id="industry-implications"><strong>Industry Implications</strong></h3><blockquote>"In a Japanese society facing population decline, the utilization of generative AI is one of our most critical challenges," <strong>said Tsuyoshi Sugitani, Senior Technical Director at Mizuho Securities’ IT &amp; Systems Group.</strong> "By taking the initiative, Mizuho aims to lead AI utilization among domestic enterprises. We intend to share the knowledge gained through this operation widely, contributing to the Japanese economy as a whole."</blockquote><blockquote><strong>Scott Wu, CEO of Cognition AI, commented on the partnership: </strong>"Mizuho Securities has long been a driver of digital adoption within the Mizuho Financial Group. We are proud that Devin has been selected to support their continued innovation."</blockquote><h3 id="about-the-technology"><strong>About the Technology</strong></h3><p>Devin is described as the world’s first fully autonomous AI software engineer. Unlike standard coding assistants, Devin can comprehend natural language requests to plan development stages, operate necessary tools, and autonomously handle coding, testing, and deployment. It is also capable of investigating legacy systems and generating documentation, allowing small teams to manage large-scale system development.</p><hr /><figure class="kg-card kg-bookmark-card"><a class="kg-bookmark-container" href="https://www.fintechobserver.com/fujitsu-and-mizuho-target-sme-efficiency-crisis-with-automated-payment-and-data-platform/"><div class="kg-bookmark-content"><div class="kg-bookmark-title">Fujitsu and Mizuho Target SME Efficiency Crisis with Automated Payment and Data Platform</div><div class="kg-bookmark-description">Fujitsu and Mizuho Bank have entered into a strategic collaboration aimed at overhauling the fragmented infrastructure of business-to-business (B2B) transactions in Japan. The partnership seeks to introduce a new order and payment processing service designed to streamline operations for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), aimed at cutting manual administrative workloads</div><div class="kg-bookmark-metadata"><img class="kg-bookmark-icon" src="https://www.fintechobserver.com/content/images/icon/Newsletter-Small-427.png" alt="" /><span class="kg-bookmark-author">Japan FinTech Observer</span><span class="kg-bookmark-publisher">Norbert Gehrke</span></div></div><div class="kg-bookmark-thumbnail"><img src="https://www.fintechobserver.com/content/images/thumbnail/Fujitsu-Mizuho.png" alt="" /></div></a></figure>

<p>Tokyo-based fintech startup Ocean has officially launched the "Tax-Free LINE Mini App" in order to capitalize on Japan’s booming inbound tourism market and impending regulatory shifts. The service, which the company claims is a global first, integrates tax-free refund processing directly into the LINE messaging platform, eliminating the need for tourists to download standalone applications.</p><div class="kg-card kg-signup-card kg-width-regular " style="background-color:#F0F0F0;display:none"> <div class="kg-signup-card-content"> <div class="kg-signup-card-text kg-align-center"> <h2 class="kg-signup-card-heading" style="color:#000000"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">Sign up for Japan FinTech Observer</span></h2> <p class="kg-signup-card-subheading" style="color:#000000"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">Cutting through the noise of Japanese Finance &amp; FinTech</span></p> <div class="kg-signup-card-fields"> <input class="kg-signup-card-input" id="email" type="email" required="true" placeholder="Your email" /> <button class="kg-signup-card-button kg-style-accent" style="color:#FFFFFF" type="submit"> <span class="kg-signup-card-button-default">Subscribe</span> <span class="kg-signup-card-button-loading"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="24" width="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24"> <circle cx="4" cy="12" r="3"></circle> <circle cx="12" cy="12" r="3"></circle> <circle cx="20" cy="12" r="3"></circle> </svg></span> </button> </div> <div class="kg-signup-card-success" style="color:#000000"> Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. </div> <div class="kg-signup-card-error" style="color:#000000"></div> <p class="kg-signup-card-disclaimer" style="color:#000000"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.</span></p> </div> </div> </div><h3 id="streamlining-the-inbound-experience"><strong>Streamlining the Inbound Experience</strong></h3><p>Ocean’s new digital tool arrives as the Japanese retail sector prepares for a major structural change. Effective November 2026, Japan will transition its tax-free shopping system from the current "exemption at purchase" model to a "post-purchase refund" (tax refund) model. This regulatory pivot is expected to increase administrative friction for both retailers and tourists.</p><p>Ocean’s solution addresses this bottleneck by leveraging the ubiquity of the LINE app, which holds dominant market share in key source markets for Japanese tourism, including Taiwan, Thailand, and South Korea. By utilizing a "Mini App" architecture, the service allows travelers to manage tax-free purchases and apply for refunds within their existing communication environment, bypassing the friction of app store downloads and complex registration processes.</p><h3 id="strategic-market-fit"><strong>Strategic Market Fit</strong></h3><blockquote>"We viewed the upcoming change in the tax-free system not merely as a compliance hurdle, but as an opportunity to evolve the tourism experience," <strong>said Ocean in a statement.</strong> "By utilizing AI, OCR, and a robust data infrastructure, we are pursuing the digital transformation of tax-free operations to alleviate the burden on frontline retail staff and enhance convenience for visitors."</blockquote><p>Key features of the platform include:</p><ul><li><strong>Frictionless Onboarding:</strong> Users can log in using their LINE ID without additional registration.</li><li><strong>Real-Time Tracking:</strong> Tourists can monitor the status of their refund applications instantly, a crucial feature under the new refund-based tax regime.</li><li><strong>Integrated Support:</strong> Customer service is handled directly through LINE chat, lowering language barriers.</li></ul><h3 id="future-outlook-and-corporate-profile"><strong>Future Outlook and Corporate Profile</strong></h3><p>Ocean intends to use the LINE Mini App as an entry point into the broader "inbound shopping ecosystem." The company plans to expand its services to accommodate non-LINE users by adapting to the preferred digital tools of other regions, aiming to create a seamless shopping environment for all international visitors.</p><p>Founded in May 2024 and led by CEO Haruka Hoshino, Ocean is headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo. As of January 2026, the company reports capital of approximately 138 million JPY (including capital reserves). This launch follows a trajectory of rapid development, with the company securing Privacy Mark certification in December 2025 and closing a funding round in November 2025.</p><hr /><figure class="kg-card kg-bookmark-card"><a class="kg-bookmark-container" href="https://www.fintechobserver.com/digital-wallet-supports-revised-tax-free-shopping-for-inbound-tourists/"><div class="kg-bookmark-content"><div class="kg-bookmark-title">Digital Wallet Supports Revised Tax-Free Shopping for Inbound Tourists</div><div class="kg-bookmark-description">It facilitates the overseas remittance of consumption tax refunds to international visitors after completing the tax-free shopping procedure.</div><div class="kg-bookmark-metadata"><img class="kg-bookmark-icon" src="https://www.fintechobserver.com/content/images/icon/Newsletter-Small-426.png" alt="" /><span class="kg-bookmark-author">Japan FinTech Observer</span><span class="kg-bookmark-publisher">Norbert Gehrke</span></div></div><div class="kg-bookmark-thumbnail"><img src="https://www.fintechobserver.com/content/images/thumbnail/DW-Tax-Refund.png" alt="" /></div></a></figure>

<p>ANRI, a Tokyo-based independent venture capital firm, has established "ANRI Fund No. 6," an investment vehicle with a targeted final corpus of 30 billion yen. The firm also disclosed the launch of the "ANRI Pre-Seed Program," a strategic initiative funded directly from the firm’s balance sheet designed to support founders facing high levels of uncertainty.</p><div class="kg-card kg-signup-card kg-width-regular " style="background-color:#F0F0F0;display:none"> <div class="kg-signup-card-content"> <div class="kg-signup-card-text kg-align-center"> <h2 class="kg-signup-card-heading" style="color:#000000"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">Sign up for Japan FinTech Observer</span></h2> <p class="kg-signup-card-subheading" style="color:#000000"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">Cutting through the noise of Japanese Finance &amp; FinTech</span></p> <div class="kg-signup-card-fields"> <input class="kg-signup-card-input" id="email" type="email" required="true" placeholder="Your email" /> <button class="kg-signup-card-button kg-style-accent" style="color:#FFFFFF" type="submit"> <span class="kg-signup-card-button-default">Subscribe</span> <span class="kg-signup-card-button-loading"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="24" width="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24"> <circle cx="4" cy="12" r="3"></circle> <circle cx="12" cy="12" r="3"></circle> <circle cx="20" cy="12" r="3"></circle> </svg></span> </button> </div> <div class="kg-signup-card-success" style="color:#000000"> Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. </div> <div class="kg-signup-card-error" style="color:#000000"></div> <p class="kg-signup-card-disclaimer" style="color:#000000"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.</span></p> </div> </div> </div><h3 id="fund-no-6-deep-tech-and-internet-focus"><strong>Fund No. 6: Deep Tech and Internet Focus</strong></h3><p>Building on the momentum of its predecessor, Fund No. 6 aims to be one of Japan’s largest seed-stage funds. The vehicle will maintain the firm's broad investment mandate, deploying capital across sectors ranging from consumer internet services to life sciences and deep tech.</p><p>The firm stated that by combining the scale of a 30 billion yen fund with the agility of the new pre-seed program, it intends to balance the swift decision-making characteristic of smaller funds with the continuous follow-on support typical of larger institutional funds.</p><h3 id="new-pre-seed-architecture"><strong>New Pre-Seed Architecture</strong></h3><p>Coinciding with the new fund, ANRI introduced the "ANRI Pre-Seed Program." This initiative is distinct in that investments are made from ANRI’s corporate entity rather than the LP-backed fund. The program targets the "pre-angel" phase, offering flexible capital to entrepreneurs navigating unproven business models or significant technical risks.</p><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://www.fintechobserver.com/content/images/2026/01/Gemini_Generated_Image_ilxp00ilxp00ilxp.png" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1536" height="2784" srcset="https://www.fintechobserver.com/content/images/size/w600/2026/01/Gemini_Generated_Image_ilxp00ilxp00ilxp.png 600w, https://www.fintechobserver.com/content/images/size/w1000/2026/01/Gemini_Generated_Image_ilxp00ilxp00ilxp.png 1000w, https://www.fintechobserver.com/content/images/2026/01/Gemini_Generated_Image_ilxp00ilxp00ilxp.png 1536w" /></figure><p>Key features of the program include:</p><ul><li><strong>Instrument:</strong> Exclusive use of J-KISS (Keep It Simple Security) convertibles.</li><li><strong>Ticket Size:</strong> 3 to 5 million yen.</li><li><strong>Terms:</strong> No valuation caps or discounts to ensure speed; focused purely on enabling immediate execution.</li><li><strong>Strategy:</strong> Designed to prioritize founder autonomy and increase the sheer volume of new ventures by removing early fundraising friction.</li></ul><p>In a statement, the firm noted that while the recent surplus of seed capital in the ecosystem is positive, early over-capitalization can sometimes restrict a founder's ability to pivot. This program aims to solve that liquidity trap by offering "no-strings" capital to validate concepts before entering the traditional VC cycle.</p><h3 id="leadership-expansion"><strong>Leadership Expansion</strong></h3><p>ANRI also announced the expansion of its General Partner (GP) partnership to a four-person structure. Shunsuke Nakaji and Yusuke Miyazaki have been promoted to General Partner, joining existing GPs Anri Samata and Junichiro Kawano.</p><p>Both Nakaji and Miyazaki joined the firm in 2018 and have successfully transitioned from associates to leadership roles, validating ANRI’s internal talent development strategy.</p><ul><li><strong>Shunsuke Nakaji:</strong> Formerly of Google Japan and DCM Ventures, Nakaji has led investments in LUUP, Plott, and Dinii.</li><li><strong>Yusuke Miyazaki:</strong> Holding a Ph.D. from Stanford University and formerly with BCG, Miyazaki specializes in the life sciences sector. His portfolio includes Strand Therapeutics and xFOREST Therapeutics.</li></ul><h3 id="about-anri"><strong>About ANRI</strong></h3><p>Founded in 2012, ANRI is an independent venture capital firm that has supported over 300 startups since its inception. Self-styled as "Changer Capital," the firm focuses on seed-stage investments with the goal of fostering companies that can realize an "overwhelming future."</p><hr /><figure class="kg-card kg-bookmark-card"><a class="kg-bookmark-container" href="https://www.fintechobserver.com/payment-movement-jamm-raises-approximately-500-million-yen-in-seed-round/"><div class="kg-bookmark-content"><div class="kg-bookmark-title">Jamm Pay Raises Approximately JPY 500m in Seed Round</div><div class="kg-bookmark-description">Jamm, which aims to realize a free payment society, has completed a fundraising of 496 million yen through third-party allocation with ANRI and XTech Ventures as co-leads, and DG Daiwa Ventures and Riku Sugie (former Paidy CEO) as participants. About “Digital Cash Payment! Jamm” “Digital Cash Payment! Jamm” is a</div><div class="kg-bookmark-metadata"><img class="kg-bookmark-icon" src="https://www.fintechobserver.com/content/images/icon/Newsletter-Small-431.png" alt="" /><span class="kg-bookmark-author">Japan FinTech Observer</span><span class="kg-bookmark-publisher">Norbert Gehrke</span></div></div><div class="kg-bookmark-thumbnail"><img src="https://www.fintechobserver.com/content/images/thumbnail/Jamm.png" alt="" /></div></a></figure>

<p>Hi all, I'm once again crowd sourcing FYPD results this year from real drafts of my own and of friends, colleagues, league-mates and readers. Currently I've amassed 15 leagues worth of data and intend to keep adding to it throughout the month of February.</p><div class="kg-card kg-signup-card kg-width-regular " style="background-color:#F0F0F0;display:none"> <div class="kg-signup-card-content"> <div class="kg-signup-card-text "> <h2 class="kg-signup-card-heading" style="color:#000000"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">Sign up for Prospects Live</span></h2> <p class="kg-signup-card-subheading" style="color:#000000"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">Your one stop shop for Dynasty Fantasy Baseball, MLB Draft, Baseball Card &amp; MiLB Baseball content. Blending Data &amp; Scouting into our Player Evaluation</span></p> <div class="kg-signup-card-fields"> <input class="kg-signup-card-input" id="email" type="email" required="true" placeholder="Your email" /> <button class="kg-signup-card-button kg-style-accent" style="color:#FFFFFF" type="submit"> <span class="kg-signup-card-button-default">Subscribe</span> <span class="kg-signup-card-button-loading"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="24" width="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24"> <circle cx="4" cy="12" r="3"></circle> <circle cx="12" cy="12" r="3"></circle> <circle cx="20" cy="12" r="3"></circle> </svg></span> </button> </div> <div class="kg-signup-card-success" style="color:#000000"> Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. </div> <div class="kg-signup-card-error" style="color:#000000"></div> <p class="kg-signup-card-disclaimer" style="color:#000000"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.</span></p> </div> </div> </div><div class="gh-paid-content-notice"><h3>This post is for subscribers only</h3><p>Become a member to get access to all content</p><a class="gh-paid-content-cta" href="https://www.prospectslive.com/2026-fypd-adp-v1-0/#/portal/signup">Subscribe now</a></div>

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<p>We spend 80% of our time in a built environment that serves as our home, workspace, and leisure space. An additional 10% of our time is spent in motorised transportation, whether private or public. Through its roads, airports, and energy and physical infrastructure, our next recommendation thus serves 90% of our lives.</p><div class="kg-card kg-signup-card kg-width-regular " style="background-color:#F0F0F0;display:none"> <div class="kg-signup-card-content"> <div class="kg-signup-card-text "> <h2 class="kg-signup-card-heading" style="color:#000000"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">Sign up for our research</span></h2> <p class="kg-signup-card-subheading" style="color:#000000"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">ByteTree Quality is a model equity portfolio and research service, holding large, liquid companies with sustainable, profitable growth, durable competitive advantages, bought at low valuations.</span></p> <input type="hidden" value="quality-sign-up" /> <div class="kg-signup-card-fields"> <input class="kg-signup-card-input" id="email" type="email" required="true" placeholder="Your email" /> <button class="kg-signup-card-button kg-style-accent" style="color:#FFFFFF" type="submit"> <span class="kg-signup-card-button-default">Sign Up</span> <span class="kg-signup-card-button-loading"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="24" width="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24"> <circle cx="4" cy="12" r="3"></circle> <circle cx="12" cy="12" r="3"></circle> <circle cx="20" cy="12" r="3"></circle> </svg></span> </button> </div> <div class="kg-signup-card-success" style="color:#000000"> Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. </div> <div class="kg-signup-card-error" style="color:#000000"></div> <p class="kg-signup-card-disclaimer" style="color:#000000"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.</span></p> </div> </div> </div><p>It does so in a highly regulated environment, on contracts that generally last for decades and carry built-in price increases, while competitors cannot enter the space. Legally granted pricing power and a lack of competition are incredibly favourable conditions for a business. As long as humans travel, this company will take a fee on every journey. This makes it highly predictable and reliable, which is what the ByteTree Quality strategy seeks.</p><div class="gh-paid-content-notice"><h3>This post is for subscribers only</h3><p>Become a member to get access to all content</p><a class="gh-paid-content-cta" href="https://www.bytetree.com/research/2026/02/regulated-monopolies/#/portal/signup">Subscribe now</a></div>