Capital at risk

Investment strategy

Japan Income Growth

Japan offers the unexpected. Global leading manufacturers, premium Asian brands and emerging digital disruptors. We search for opportunities with the potential to provide great shareholder returns. 

Asian female traveller photographing the spectacular nature scenics of Arashiyama Bamboo forest with smartphone while travelling in Kyoto, Japan.

Backing businesses, not the economy

By focusing on the fundamentals, we aim to uncover Japan’s mispriced and often under-appreciated opportunities in the hope of providing our clients with great returns. 

Japanese Equities: our philosophy

Investment manager Donald Farquharson introduces Japanese Equities, reflecting on the exciting opportunities ahead.

Searching for Japan’s finest

Japan Income Growth embraces a distinctly long-term approach to deliver total return. We aim to outperform the Topix benchmark by 1.5 per cent per annum over rolling five-year periods with an above-market yield. 

Our portfolio contains 45-65 holdings. We seek to take advantage of market inefficiencies by investing across different types of growth company, which given our time horizon allows us to take advantage of their idiosyncratic growth opportunities.  

We find these companies through bottom-up research, holding on for the long term with the aim of capturing the full benefits of compounded growth. 

The performance target is aspirational and is not guaranteed. We don’t use it to compile the portfolio and returns will vary. A single performance target may not be appropriate across all vehicles and jurisdictions. We may not meet our investment objectives if, for example, our growth investment style is out of favour or we misjudge the long-term earnings growth of our holdings.

Patient pursuit of opportunities

Our high-conviction portfolio is constructed from the bottom up, based on long-term earnings growth potential.  

We aim to capture growth in all forms – from secular opportunities in emerging digital disruptors to the enduring growth of stalwart franchises to special situations of corporate reform.  

The patience and insight with which we pursue this broad base of potential is a product of our pedigree. Having launched specialist mandates in the 1980s, we’re one of the few who’ve been doing this for over 40 years. 

A history of hoarding cash points to an exciting future, where cash-rich growth companies begin to return excess capital to investors – at no expense to their own growth prospects.
Karen See

Meet the managers

Documents

Quarterly update

Get the latest investment commentary, portfolio overview, transactions and performance information alongside governance engagement and voting. 

Stewardship report

Find out about our conversations with portfolio companies, shareholder vote activity and consideration of environmental, social and governance matters.

Explore further

Curious to learn more about our products and what we can offer you? Please get in touch.

Strategy portfolio holdings

A list of the top 10 holdings that the representative portfolio invests in.

All figures up to: 30 November 2024

#Holding% of portfolio
1SoftBank Group4.2%
2Sumitomo Mitsui Trust4.2%
3SBI Holdings4.2%
4Tokio Marine Holdings Inc4.1%
5MS&AD Insurance3.9%
6GMO Internet3.7%
7Nintendo2.8%
8PARK242.6%
9MonotaRO2.6%
10Calbee2.6%

Strategy holdings by sector

As at: 30 November 2024

1Manufacturing44.70%
2Finance & Insurance17.50%
3Transport And Communications13.40%
4Services9.60%
5Commerce8.90%
6Real Estate5.50%
7Cash0.40%
Total 100%

Strategy holdings by sector

All figures up to: 30 November 2024

Total: 100%

Please note

The information contained on this page is intended as a guide only and should not be relied upon when making investment decisions. All holdings information is unaudited. Source Baillie Gifford & Co. Please note that totals may not add due to rounding.

Explore further

Curious to learn more about our products and what we can offer you? Please get in touch.

Insights

Key articles, videos and podcasts relating to the strategy:

Filters

Insights

Viewing 19 of 19
  1. Rakuten: rewiring Japan’s digital economy

    Conglomerates can be clunky, but not so Rakuten. Matthew Brett and Colossus on how it is connecting the dots. Capital at risk.
    October 2024
    External link60 minutes
  2. Investment specialist Thomas Patchett

    Future Stocks: Our best ideas in Japan

    Thomas Patchett uncovers three companies driving new opportunities in Japan.
    September 2024
    Video3 minutes
  3. Investment manager Donald Farquharson

    Japan: opportunities in automation

    Japan's automation revolution and its global leadership in robotics.
    September 2024
    Video3 minutes
  4. Investment manager Karen See

    Japan: opportunities in healthcare

    Japan’s innovation medical breakthroughs are combatting ageing.
    September 2024
    Video2 minutes
  5. Investment manager Tolibjon Tursunov

    Japan: opportunities in quality brands

    Behind the success of Japan’s leading quality brands and what opportunities they present.
    September 2024
    Video2 minutes
  6. Investment manager Jared Anderson

    Japan: opportunities in entertainment

    Japan's media giants: Sony and Nintendo's timeless influence.
    September 2024
    Video3 minutes
  7. Matthew Brett, manager of the Baillie Gifford Japan Trust and co-manager of the Japanese Income Growth Fund.

    Japanese changemakers shaping the future

    The firms taking advantage of four transformational opportunities.
    August 2024
    Podcast3 minutes
  8. fast moving motorway overlooking a city

    Japan: the next opportunity

    Explore Japan's market evolution, digitalization, and investment opportunities in unique growth themes.
    June 2024
    Article9 minutes
  9. The landscape seen from lens in Shanghai, China

    China through a Japanese lens

    Japanese tech dominance is under increasing pressure in China from domestic challengers.
    May 2024
    Article8 minutes
  10. The fresh face of Japanese finance

    New online services are transforming Japanese financial habits.
    March 2024
    Article4 minutes
  11. Japanese Equities Q4 update

    The Japanese Equities Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.
    January 2024
    Video12 minutes
  12. Stock story: SoftBank

    Matthew Brett discusses SoftBank and considers Japan’s exciting technological future.
    December 2023
    Video4 minutes
  13. Why growth, why now?

    Tough times play to the partnership’s strengths: analysing what enables us to adapt and thrive amid rapid change.
    December 2023
    Article17 minutes
  14. Spotting the stars amid a surge

    Rising Japanese markets are flattering old-style companies: better to look for long-term growth.
    November 2023
    Document
  15. Japan’s new growth opportunities

    Seeking the entrepreneurial firms that could sustain the country’s rally.
    November 2023
    Podcast
  16. Japanese Equities Q3 update

    The Japanese Equities Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.
    October 2023
    Video12 minutes
  17. Japanese Equities

    Investment manager, Donald Farquharson, discusses the Baillie Gifford approach to Japanese Equities.
    September 2023
    Video4 minutes
  18. Japan’s place in the chip market

    The Japanese semiconductor companies set to benefit from the rise of 5G and electric cars.
    March 2023
    Article
  19. Dominators vs disrupters - the future of industrial robotics

    The big four incumbents in robotics are gearing up for a challenge. In a reshaping global industry, they are readying themselves for the march of the cobots.
    Document
Matthew Brett, manager of the Baillie Gifford Japan Trust and co-manager of the Japanese Income Growth Fund.

Japanese changemakers shaping the future

The firms taking advantage of four transformational opportunities.
August 2024
Podcast3 minutes

  1. Rakuten: rewiring Japan’s digital economy

    Conglomerates can be clunky, but not so Rakuten. Matthew Brett and Colossus on how it is connecting the dots. Capital at risk.
    October 2024
    External link60 minutes
  2. Investment specialist Thomas Patchett

    Future Stocks: Our best ideas in Japan

    Thomas Patchett uncovers three companies driving new opportunities in Japan.
    September 2024
    Video3 minutes
  3. Investment manager Donald Farquharson

    Japan: opportunities in automation

    Japan's automation revolution and its global leadership in robotics.
    September 2024
    Video3 minutes
  4. Investment manager Karen See

    Japan: opportunities in healthcare

    Japan’s innovation medical breakthroughs are combatting ageing.
    September 2024
    Video2 minutes
  5. Investment manager Tolibjon Tursunov

    Japan: opportunities in quality brands

    Behind the success of Japan’s leading quality brands and what opportunities they present.
    September 2024
    Video2 minutes
  6. Investment manager Jared Anderson

    Japan: opportunities in entertainment

    Japan's media giants: Sony and Nintendo's timeless influence.
    September 2024
    Video3 minutes
  7. Matthew Brett, manager of the Baillie Gifford Japan Trust and co-manager of the Japanese Income Growth Fund.

    Japanese changemakers shaping the future

    The firms taking advantage of four transformational opportunities.
    August 2024
    Podcast3 minutes
  8. fast moving motorway overlooking a city

    Japan: the next opportunity

    Explore Japan's market evolution, digitalization, and investment opportunities in unique growth themes.
    June 2024
    Article9 minutes
  9. The landscape seen from lens in Shanghai, China

    China through a Japanese lens

    Japanese tech dominance is under increasing pressure in China from domestic challengers.
    May 2024
    Article
  10. The fresh face of Japanese finance

    New online services are transforming Japanese financial habits.
    March 2024
    Article4 minutes
  11. Japanese Equities Q4 update

    The Japanese Equities Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.
    January 2024
    Video12 minutes
  12. Stock story: SoftBank

    Matthew Brett discusses SoftBank and considers Japan’s exciting technological future.
    December 2023
    Video4 minutes
  13. Why growth, why now?

    Tough times play to the partnership’s strengths: analysing what enables us to adapt and thrive amid rapid change.
    December 2023
    Article17 minutes
  14. Spotting the stars amid a surge

    Rising Japanese markets are flattering old-style companies: better to look for long-term growth.
    November 2023
    Document
  15. Japan’s new growth opportunities

    Seeking the entrepreneurial firms that could sustain the country’s rally.
    November 2023
    Podcast
  16. Japanese Equities Q3 update

    The Japanese Equities Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.
    October 2023
    Video12 minutes
  17. Japanese Equities

    Investment manager, Donald Farquharson, discusses the Baillie Gifford approach to Japanese Equities.
    September 2023
    Video4 minutes
  18. Japan’s place in the chip market

    The Japanese semiconductor companies set to benefit from the rise of 5G and electric cars.
    March 2023
    Article
  19. Dominators vs disrupters - the future of industrial robotics

    The big four incumbents in robotics are gearing up for a challenge. In a reshaping global industry, they are readying themselves for the march of the cobots.
    Document

Explore further

Curious to learn more about our products and what we can offer you? Please get in touch.

Important information

Please remember that all investment strategies have the potential for profit and loss and your or your clients’ capital may be at risk.
 
The information on this Website is issued by Baillie Gifford Asia (Hong Kong) Limited 柏基亞洲(香港)有限公司 (the “Company”) which is licensed by the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong (the “SFC”) under the Securities and Futures Ordinance (“SFO”) for Type 1 (Dealing in Securities) regulated activity with CE Number BGB803. It allows the Company to market and distribute the Baillie Gifford’s range of collective investment schemes to Professional Investors (as defined by the SFO) in Hong Kong.
 
The information contained in this website has been compiled with considerable care to ensure its accuracy at the date of publication. However, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made to its accuracy or completeness. Nothing in this information or elsewhere in this website shall exclude, limit or restrict our duties and liabilities to you under the SFO or any conduct of business rules which we are bound to comply with. The information on this website has not been reviewed by the SFC. These Terms and any non-contractual obligations arising from or connected with them shall be governed by, and these Terms shall be construed in accordance with, the laws of Hong Kong.
 
This website is informative only and the information provided should not be considered as investment or other advice or a recommendation or offer to buy, sell or hold a particular investment. You can read details of our Legal and Important Information here. Please remember that all investment strategies have the potential for profit and loss and your or your clients’ capital may be at risk.
 
This website does not collect personal information. "Cookies" may be stored on your computer for easy navigation. A "cookie" does not allow us to identify you, but stores information about navigation through our website (such as pages already visited, time and date of visit) which we can remember during the user's next visit to our website in order to improve your browsing experience. If you have any enquiries in relation to our data protection policies and procedures, this Website or the information on it, please click here to contact Baillie Gifford.
 
Baillie Gifford Asia (Hong Kong) Limited 柏基亞洲(香港)有限公司 is incorporated in Hong Kong.  The Company’s principal place of business is Suites 2713-2715 Two International Finance Centre, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong . Baillie Gifford Asia (Hong Kong) Limited 柏基亞洲(香港)有限公司 is a wholly owned subsidiary of Baillie Gifford Overseas Limited, which is wholly owned by Baillie Gifford & Co. Baillie Gifford Overseas Limited and Baillie Gifford & Co are authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority.