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We use many financial services in our day-to-day life, using e-money to take trains, withdrawing money from ATMs at convenience stores, or taking out life or auto insurance. If you have interests in investing, you may also be investing in stocks or investment trust funds.

Have you ever felt that it would be even better if it was just a little more convenient, or that?

In addition, financial institutions that provide their respective financial services are constantly striving to improve their services and streamline their operations.

For the “Financial Innovation Category”, Tokyo residents and businesses are invited to submit any dissatisfaction they feel, or requests they have regarding the BtoB or BtoC services in Tokyo, or services they wish. Tokyo Metropolitan Government will choose the theme to be resolved from these applications, and ask domestic and foreign financial companies offering relevant solutions to apply for.

From the applicants, the best three examples will be chosen by 2 judging processes and awarded. The first, second and third prize winner receive 10M JPY, 5M JPY, 3M JPY, respectively.

In addition to the award for the top three winners, “Special Award” may be given for outstanding initiatives.

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SCHEDULE

Submission of resolutions

First Judgement

Start of the Support Program

Final Judgement

Award Ceremony


Call for
Solution
Providers

ENTRY

The “Financial Innovation Category” of the Tokyo Financial Award invites financial businesses to apply for “Solutions” to “Themes to be solved” which are based on the needs and challenges related to financial services which were submitted by residents and businesses in Tokyo.

The solutions submitted by applicants are examined in terms of consistency with the theme, innovativeness in technology and business model, and feasibility, among other factors.

We will provide support programs to approximately 15 applicants in Japan and from overseas in order to help them brush up their work for the purpose of commercialization.

After the program, we will conduct a final screening and announce the top three applicants at the award ceremony.
10 million yen, 5 million yen, 3 million yen will be awarded as prize money respectively to first place, second place, and third place applicants.

In addition to the award for the top three winners, “Special Prize” may be given for outstanding initiatives.

Deadline for
submission
Thursday, July 31, 2025, 11:59 p.m. (Japan Standard Time)
How to
apply
Please apply from this application form
Please click here to see the FAQs.
Application
Guidelines
Please download the application guidelines here.
List of
themes to
be solved
Here is a list of themes in each area for which we are accepting applications.

Support
Program

The following benefits will be granted to the businesses selected in the first-stage screening. Please refer to the application guidelines for the timing and other details.


Benefits:

1. Introductory seminar: The seminar will provide explanations on the FinTech market, laws and regulations, and commercial customs in Japan, TMG’s policies to attract foreign companies, and more.
2. Mentoring and business meetings: Mentors will hold business meetings for participating businesses to brush up their services or products. For domestic companies, support will be provided for sending information overseas, if necessary.
3. Business plan development support: Support for business plan development will be provided by mentors, etc., to participating businesses.
4. Opportunities to participate in networking events: Networking events with companies supporting this project will be held.
5. Networking events with companies supporting this project will be held. Provision of business matching opportunities: Business matching opportunities for joint research/development, sales tie-ups, etc. with companies in Tokyo will be provided.
6. Support for disclosing information in English: Support will be provided for the disclosure of corporate information (financial statements, IR materials, etc.) in English.
7. Feedback on screening contents: Feedback on the screening contents will be provided to enable the applicants to brush up and realize their proposal.
8. Participation in the Demo Day and award ceremony
9. Follow-up program: “Business Development Center TOKYO”* will continue to support the advancement to Tokyo, including the procedures required to establish an office in Tokyo.
10. Priority to be invited to speak at events hosted by the TMG, etc.: Businesses that are selected for the final screening may be asked to speak at events hosted by the TMG, etc. on a preferential basis.


Mentors(planned)

To be announced shortly.



Business Matching Partner Companies


To be updated shortly.


Selection
Committee

Committee Chair

YAMAOKA HiromiBoard Member and Chief Sustainability Officer, Future Corporation / Special Advisor for International Finance, Tokyo Metropolitan Government


Committee Members

OE KayoPresident and CEO, Office Libertas
MASUJIMA MasakazuPartner, Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
Chang LiDirector, Fintech Association of Japan / Nippon Life X Chief Manager, Nippon Life Insurance Company



* List from those whose appointment has been confirmed.
To be updated in due course.