Hajime Nozaki

Sawakami Asset Management, Inc. (SAMI) is the investment management subsidiary of Sawakami Holdings, Inc. in Japan. Headquartered in Tokyo, the firm was founded by Atsuto Sawakami in 1996. SAMI manages the Sawakami Fund, which they market themselves on the internet and through direct contacts established on conference tours. Their clients are Japanese residents only. In line with their cost-conscious culture, the firm avoids distribution channels and the associated fees. The firm pioneered the no-load approach in Japan.

Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co., Ltd. (MUFJ-AM) is the asset management subsidiary of Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp., itself a subsidiary of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. (TYO: 8306, ADR: MTU) in Japan. Originating in 1985, the firm was founded in 2015 as Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co., Ltd. when Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. and KOKUSAI Asset Management merged. Headquartered in Tokyo with branches in Osaka and Nagoya, MUFJ-AM offers a wide range of investment trusts to corporate clients and private clients such as high-net worth individuals and retail investors. Their clientele is international with a strong focus on Japanese investors.