Asia Market Access 2026 Outlook: The Velocity of Inertia
Date
March 09, 2026 • 5 min read
Cross-border M&A between Japan and Western markets continues to accelerate, making access to truly integrated regional and sector expertise more critical than ever.
For the first time, DC Advisory and Daiwa Securities Group brought their global DC FEST programme to Tokyo, bringing together DC Advisory bankers across Europe, the US, and Japan, with leaders from over 100 Japanese corporations. The forum was designed for the exchange of first-hand perspectives on strategies and approaches to navigating Western-led M&A deal processes.
Drawing on the insights from Japanese corporate players and leveraging three decades of Japanese cross-border M&A expertise, DC Advisory’s Asia Access team discusses the drivers shaping inbound and outbound activity.
Topics include:
- Why Japanese companies are looking outward
- Governance as a catalyst for capital efficiency
- The quiet rise of Japan’s ‘hidden champions’
- Asia-Pacific outbound trends
 |
A message from Toru Yamamoto, Head of Global Investment Banking, Daiwa Securities Group Inc. |
"We, Daiwa Securities Group, provide M&A advisory services globally through our subsidiary DC Advisory - an international investment bank committed to “making a difference”. We were delighted to host DC Advisory’s global program, “DC FEST” in Tokyo.
In today’s increasingly uncertain environment, cross-border M&A plays an ever more critical role in driving business expansion and creating diverse value in global markets. At the DC FEST Tokyo seminar, leading M&A experts from around the world shared the latest trends, practical insights, and success stories from multiple perspectives. We also focused on growth strategies for Japanese companies through cross-border M&A.
Following the seminar, our networking reception brought together leading professionals and practitioners in the M&A market, both Japanese and international.
We trust these connections will serve as a gateway for our private equity partners to access unique Japanese partnerships in the future."
Read the full report >
Appendix
2025 DC FEST Tokyo Survey
Unless otherwise indicated, all tables, data and statistics provided in this report, including with respect to deal activity, have been collected via the 2025 DC FEST Tokyo survey, subject to the limitations of the survey. DC Advisory’s independent survey of 104 Japanese corporate leaders active in the Japanese market, which was completed in December 2025 (referred to herein as the “2025 DC FEST Tokyo” or the “survey”). Any data sourced from the survey is limited to the data provided by the survey participants and is not meant to constitute definitive market data. The corporates selected for the survey are based on those that are most active in the Japanese M&A market, and that DC Advisory interacts with the most. Accordingly, the survey participants do not constitute an exhaustive list of Japanese corporates who may have been active during the period addressed by the survey.
DC Advisory has prepared this material solely for informational purposes and it is not a research report. This material does not constitute or form part of, and should not be construed as, an offer to sell, or a solicitation of any offer to buy, or any recommendation with respect to, any securities. For other important information, please read our Insights & Publications disclaimer >
What to read next
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Japan
Japan
Japan
Japan
Japan
Japan
Japan
United Kingdom
United States
India
Thailand
Japan
Japan
United States
United States
United Kingdom
Vietnam
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Contact form
Thank you!
Your message has been received by DC Advisory so you'll hear back from us soon.
We collect your personal data if you sign up to receive news or get in touch with us. This is collected by third-party firms on our behalf. We have three separate lists:
- DealCloud - which we use as our CRM. DealCloud privacy statement is available here: https://www.intapp.com/privacy/
- SalesForce - which we use as our CRM. SalesForce privacy statement is available here: https://www.salesforce.com/uk/company/privacy/
- Spotler - which we use to send email marketing campaigns. Spotler privacy statement is available here: https://spotler.co.uk/privacy-policy/
Application form
Thank you!
Your message has been received by DC Advisory so you'll hear back from us soon.