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Japan's Market Redemption: From Pariah to Halo Trade

Financial Times Markets •
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What once seemed unthinkable for Japanese assets has become the investment world's latest redemption story. Investors who once shunned Japanese equities as secularly stagnant are now pouring capital into the country's markets, drawn by corporate reforms and valuation opportunities that have transformed the investment landscape.

This dramatic shift reflects a broader change in sentiment toward Japan's economic prospects. After decades of deflation and demographic challenges, corporate governance reforms and shareholder activism have unlocked value in Japanese companies. The Nikkei 225's surge past 40,000 points has validated this turnaround thesis, with foreign investors reversing years of outflows.

Value investors are particularly attracted to Japan's combination of strong balance sheets, rising dividends, and relatively cheap valuations compared to Western markets. The country's export sector benefits from a weaker yen, while domestic companies gain from improving corporate profitability. This market rotation represents one of the most significant asset allocation shifts in recent years, with Japan emerging as a safe haven in an otherwise volatile global environment.