ETFGI reports that assets invested in the ETFs industry in Japan reached a new record of US$614.26 billion at the end of April

Press Release

LONDON — May 30, 2025 — ETFGI, a leading independent research and consultancy firm renowned for its expertise in subscription research, consulting services, events, and ETF TV on global ETF industry trends, reported today that assets invested in the ETFs industry in Japan reached a new record of US$614.26 billion at the end of April. During April the ETFs industry in Japan gathered net inflows of US$5.91 billion, bringing year-to-date net inflows to US$14.98 billion, according to ETFGI's April 2025 Japanese ETFs and ETPs industry landscape insights report, the monthly report which is part of an annual paid-for research subscription service. (All dollar values in USD unless otherwise noted.)

Highlights

  • Assets invested in the ETFs industry in Japan reached a new record of $614.26 Bn at the end of April, beating the previous record of $602.61 Bn at the end of September 2024.
  • Net inflows of $5.91 Bn in April 2025.
  • YTD net inflows of $14.98 Bn in 2025 are the fifth highest on record, while the highest recorded YTD net inflows are $33.91 Bn in 2020, and the second highest recorded YTD net inflows are $31.11 Bn in 2018.
  • 4th month of consecutive net inflows.

 

The S&P 500 Index declined by 0.68% in April and is down 4.92% year-to-date (YTD) in 2025. In contrast, the Developed Markets Ex-U.S. Index rose 4.86% in April and is up 10.85% YTD. Among developed markets, Spain and Portugal posted the strongest gains in April, rising 8.65% and 7.67%, respectively. The Emerging Markets Index increased by 0.88% during April and is up 1.80% YTD. Within emerging markets, Hungary led with a 10.78% gain, followed closely by Mexico at 10.40%," said Deborah Fuhr, Managing Partner, Founder, and Owner of ETFGI.

 

Growth in assets in the ETFs industry in Japan as of the end of April

https://etfgi.com/sites/default/files/styles/feature_image/public/source_3.png?itok=sw3zyEon

 

 

The ETFs industry in Japan had 359 products, with 381 listings, assets of US$614.26 Bn, from 16 providers listed on 2 exchanges at the end of April.

During April, ETFs gathered net inflows of $5.91 Bn. Equity ETFs gathered net inflows of $5.32 Bn, bringing YTD net inflows to $12.73 Bn, slightly higher than the $11.02 Bn in net inflows YTD in 2024. Fixed income ETFs reported net outflows of $353.43 Mn during April, bringing YTD net outflows to $634.71 Mn, lower than the $578.81 Mn in net inflows YTD in 2024. Commodities ETFs reported net inflows of $415.79 Mn during April, bringing YTD net inflows to $839.18 Mn, higher than the $277.11 Mn in net inflows YTD in 2024.  

As of the end of April, assets invested in the ETF industry in Japan totalled US$614.26 billion, with the Bank of Japan holding US$245 billion in ETFs."

 

 

https://etfgi.com/sites/default/files/styles/feature_image/public/source_3.png?itok=sw3zyEon

 

 

Substantial inflows can be attributed to the top 20 ETFs by net new assets, which collectively gathered $7.00 Bn in April. iFree ETF-TOPIX (1305 JP) gathered $1.52 Bn, the largest individual net inflow.

 

Top 20 ETFs by net new assets April 2025: Japan

Name

Ticker

Assets
(US$ Mn)
Apr-25

NNA
(US$ Mn)
 YTD-25

NNA
(US$ Mn)
Apr-25

iFree ETF-TOPIX

1305 JP

      74,620.13

             1,551.74

          1,522.06

Listed Index Fund TOPIX

1308 JP

      77,842.16

             1,715.63

          1,122.60

iFreeETF Bloomberg Japan High Dividend 50 Index

354A JP

              9.08

                878.65

             878.65

NEXT FUNDS Nikkei 225 Leveraged Index ETF

1570 JP

       4,137.77

             2,082.22

             641.81

NEXT FUNDS TOPIX Exchange Traded Fund

1306 JP

    162,295.14

             2,145.78

             460.68

Japan Physical Gold ETF

1540 JP

       5,072.40

                771.64

             354.95

NEXT FUNDS MSCI Global Climate 500 Japan Selection Index ETF

294A JP

          570.29

                  26.64

             338.56

MAXIS TOPIX ETF

1348 JP

      23,542.82

                593.75

             300.63

MAXIS NIKKEI225 ETF

1346 JP

      16,166.07

                442.38

             281.73

One ETF TOPIX

1473 JP

       4,229.50

                261.68

             205.91

iFree ETF-Nikkei 225

1320 JP

      31,229.37

                158.64

             162.37

iShares Core TOPIX ETF

1475 JP

      13,326.85

             1,213.68

             120.67

iShares Core Japan REIT ETF

1476 JP

       2,648.22

                218.24

             105.78

NEXT FUNDS Nikkei 225 High Dividend Yield Stock 50 Index Exchange Traded Fund

1489 JP

       2,351.86

                299.07

              96.18

iFree ETF-Nikkei 225 Quarterly Dividend Type

2624 JP

          418.68

                  97.76

              82.92

One ETF Nikkei 225

1369 JP

       2,883.63

                148.42

              80.12

Global X MSCI Japan Climate Change ETF

2848 JP

            68.66

                  64.36

              64.36

Simplex Nikkei225 Bull 2x ETF

1579 JP

          354.77

                174.86

              61.94

NEXT FUNDS Nikkei 225 Exchange Traded Fund

1321 JP

      70,055.28

                815.28

              60.80

Listed Index Fund 225

1330 JP

      33,801.51

                437.00

              54.96

 https://etfgi.com/sites/default/files/styles/feature_image/public/source_3.png?itok=sw3zyEon

 

 

Investors have tended to invest in Equity ETFs during April.

Contact deborah.fuhr@etfgi.com if you have any questions or comments on the press release or ETFGI events, research or consulting services.

 

Register now to attend the 17th Annual Japan ETF Conference, hosted by S&P Dow Jones Indices on June 3rd & 4th in Tokyo at the Hotel Okura Tokyo. 

Join Deborah Fuhr, Managing Partner and Founder of ETFGI, who will be attending and moderating the panel “Global Diversification – Opportunities and Challenges in a Dynamic Market”, on Day 2, June 4th, from 15:15 to 15:55 in the Heian Room at the Hotel Okura Tokyo.

This panel will explore:

  • Opportunities and challenges in global diversification
  • The role of emerging markets and sector strategies
  • Geopolitical impacts, currency risk, and regulatory considerations
  • The influence of technological advancements
  • Future trends shaping global investment

Panelists:

  • Sumiya Daisuke, Head of Multi Asset and Multi Strategy Investment Unit, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Asset Management
  • Sherif Salem, Partner & Head of Public Markets, Lunate
  • Sho Shibamoto, International ETF Business Development Group Manager, Nikko Asset Management
  • Annie Shum, Head of Business Strategy, CSOP Asset Management

 

We invite all attendees of the S&P Dow Jones Indices 17th annual Japan ETF Conference to join this insightful session. You can register here at no cost to attend the event.

If you would like to arrange a meeting with Deborah while she is in Tokyo, please email contact@etfgi.com
 

 

Women in ETFs Japan chapter invites all global members to register to attend a brunch event to discuss global trends in the ETFs industry with Deborah Fuhr, founder and board member of Women in ETFs Inc and Women in ETFs EMEA and network with industry peers on June 5th at 8:30am hosted by Bloomberg at their office in Tokyo!

Spaces are limited, registration to attend the event closes on June 1st. Register now!

Event details:
📅 Thursday, June 5th 8:30 am - 10am
📍 Bloomberg Tokyo Office, 2-4-1 MARUNOUCHI CHIYODA-KU, MARUNOUCHI BLDG, Tokyo 100-6321 Japan
🔗 Register here

Women in ETFs Inc is an 11-year-old non-profit with over 12,700 members in 32 chapters around the world. More than half of all of the members and chapters are located outside of the United States. 20% of the members are men that are allies.

Women in ETFs aims to Connect, Support and Inspire women and diversity in the ETFs and financial industry globally by bringing together people in the ETF industry across the globe to champion our goals of actively choosing equality, diversity, and inclusion. We are bold and fearless in our mission to develop and sponsor talent, recognize and honor the achievements of women in the industry, and invest in the ETF community.

Women and men are invited to join at no cost.

Any questions contact the co-head of Japan chapter: Noriko Suzumura at nsuzumura@bloomberg.net
 

Contact: 
Deborah Fuhr 
Managing Partner, Founder 
ETFGI 
Mobile: +44 777 5823 111 
Email: deborah.fuhr@etfgi.com 
Web: www.etfgi.com 

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