Join the WCNY Asset Management Network (WAMN) for a fireside chat with Tomohiro Fujiyama, Chief Representative of the Japanese Ministry of Finance and Deputy Consul-General in New York, and Hitoshi Kume, Deputy Chief Representative of the Ministry and Consul. In Japan, a declining and aging population is contributing to an environment of slow economic growth and increased social benefit costs. The Government is working on initiatives meant to improve the country’s fiscal position, with the goal of achieving primary surplus by 2025 and steadily reducing the public debt to GDP ratio. One such initiative is the consumption tax increase scheduled to take effect on October 1, but the Government has also been a driving force behind the Corporate Governance Reform. Mr. Fujiyama and Mr. Kume will share insights on the actions that the Government is taking to stimulate the economy, with a particular focus on how improvements in Corporate Governance could increase productivity (by reducing excess cash and cross-shareholdings and stimulating investments) and attract foreign investments.

About Tomohiro Fujiyama
Tomohiro Fujiyama was appointed as Chief Representative of the Japanese Ministry of Finance in New York and Deputy Consul-General in New York on June 28, 2017. He joined the Japanese Ministry of Finance in 1997. Prior to his current position in New York, Mr. Fujiyama worked in the Tax Bureau of the Ministry of Finance, Japan, for seven years. During that time, he worked on the Comprehensive Reform of Social Security and Tax Cabinet order, a measure aimed at both securing the sustainability and ensuring fiscal consolidation; the pro-growth Reform on Corporate Tax Bill, which lowered tax rates while broadening the tax base; also has experience working for the Financial Services Agency and, from 2007 to 2010 he was posted as First Secretary at the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam. Mr. Fujiyama earned an M.B.A. degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2001 and a B.A. in Law Degree from the University of Tokyo in 1997.

About Hitoshi Kume
Hitoshi Kume assumed Deputy Chief Representative of the Japanese Ministry of Finance and Consul in New York in July 2017. He joined the Financial Services Agency (FSA) in 2008. Prior to his current position, Mr. Kume worked for two years in the Policy and Planning Bureau of the FSA as a Deputy Director. During that period, he was responsible for formulating the FSA’s first annual “Strategic Directions and Priorities,” which clarified the Agency’s policy goals and measures. Previously, Mr. Kume worked as a Deputy Director at the Supervisory Bureau from 2014-2015, where he managed a team of risk specialists to supervise large broker-dealers. From 2012-2014, he engaged in the development of international financial regulation for the G20 and the Financial Stability Board. Mr. Kume received an M.B.A. with honors from Thunderbird School of Global Management in 2012 and a B.A. in business and commerce from Keio University in 2007. He also studied policy development with an economics-focus at the graduate school of Hitotsubashi University through 2007-2008.

When:
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Where:
Midtown location (Note: Address will be sent via email to all registered guests 24-48 hours prior to the event to the "Primary Email" address listed in your profile. Please review your profile to confirm that the email address listed is correct.)

Cost:
WCNY Supporting Members - $20 (WCNY supporting membership costs $95/yr at Join/Renew Membership)
Other Wharton Alumni & Guests - $40
Gold and Benefactor Members - $0

To Register: 
Click here to register. Seats are Limited! Please register early as events can and do sell out quickly.
  Cancellations must be made at least 48-hours (business day) prior to the event date by sending an email to Gabriela Sanchez. Refunds or credits for future events are not available for any no-shows or late cancellations.