FundCalibre - Investing on the go

Investing on the go gives you direct access to the people who manage your ISA and pensions savings. Our hosts will be interviewing finance professionals on everything from their successes and failures to current ideas and insights. At meetings, before events and even if we bump into them on the street, we'll grab five minutes with these experts to discuss how your own personal finances could be impacted by topics such as US elections, the move from petrol to electric vehicles, the growth in artificial intelligence and robots, and so much more. Our ultimate goal is to bring to life the world of investments and uncover new and exciting opportunities, all while inspiring you to invest and giving you the confidence and knowledge to make the right decisions. To do this we often ask the managers why they are invested in individual companies. This is for illustration only and should not be taken as a recommendation to buy or sell that stock. The fund manager may or may not still own these companies at the time of your listening. For more investment research visit us at www.fundcalibre.com and follow us on twitter and facebook @FundCalibre

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FundCalibre - Investing on the go

393. From deflation to innovation and the new drivers of Japan

April 23, 2026 • FundCalibre

0:00 | 18:18

This episode explores the changing investment landscape in Japan and why it may be entering a new era of growth. With deflation ending, wages rising and corporate governance improving, companies are being pushed to deploy capital more efficiently. We’re joined by Alison Henry, investment specialist in Japanese equities from Baillie Gifford, this week who highlights opportunities in mid-cap innovators, the growing influence of artificial intelligence and Japan’s leadership in robotics and automation. We also examine how companies are adapting to technological disruption and the role of global volatility in portfolio decisions, focusing on the Baillie Gifford Japanese fund, as an example. Despite lingering misconceptions, Japan is presented as a market offering compelling valuations, strong earnings growth and significant long-term potential for investors willing to look beyond outdated narratives.

What’s covered in this episode:

The end of deflation in Japan
Rising wages and consumption
Ongoing corporate governance reforms
Why cash hoarding culture is shifting
The valuation gap vs US and Europe
Mid-cap growth opportunities
Innovation and disruptive companies
AI adoption in Japan
Robotics and automation leadership
Demographics driving technology uptake
Baillie Gifford Japanese fund’s exposure to AI themes
SoftBank and AI ecosystem
Managing geopolitical volatility
Popular misconceptions about Japan

Learn more on fundcalibre.com

Please remember, we’ve been discussing individual companies to bring investing to life for you. It’s not a recommendation to buy or sell. The fund may or may not still hold these companies at the time of listening. Elite Ratings are based on FundCalibre’s research methodology and are the opinion of FundCalibre’s research team only.