Japan Stock Market: Nikkei 225 & How to Invest

Japan Stock Market (Tokyo): If you are looking for a stock exchange to invest in, we suggest investing in the Japan stock market. Japan ranks among the most powerful countries in terms of its stock market. And for more detail, we will walk you through the largest stock exchanges in Japan.

The Future of the Japan Stock Market in the Financial World – Aggressive Growth Strategy

  • So what is the name of the Tokyo stock exchange? Japan is home to Asia’s largest stock exchange, the Tokyo Stock Exchange, which has become the Japan Exchange Group. The companies listed there rank among the world leaders in their industries. Toyota is a prime example.
  • The Tokyo Stock Exchange uses an aggressive growth strategy to cement its dominance over the Asian market. This strategy will also allow it to gradually close the gap with the New York Stock Exchange. Getting started there with a broker like XTB could therefore prove profitable.
  • To achieve this goal, the TSE and the Osaka Securities Exchange (OSE) merged to create the Japan Exchange Group. The JPX also seeks to build closer ties with its competitors to form relationships that benefit both parties.
  • The combination of acquisitions, partnerships and mergers secures a brighter future for the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Its market size will keep growing while the negative effects of competition are kept in check.

Why Invest in the Japan Stock Market and Its Direct Index, the NIKKEI?

  • The Expansion of Its Influence: The Tokyo Stock Exchange wants to be the undisputed leader among Asian stock exchanges. The JPX made it possible to open Burma’s first stock exchange, the Rangoon Stock Exchange. 112845 shares were traded for a value of 3498 billion yen. First Myanmar Investment was the one and only company listed on that exchange. This strategy reflects the power of the JPX and its ambition to become the world’s leading stock exchange. Other companies will have every interest in joining the JPX.
  • The Resilience of the Japanese Market: The Tokyo Stock Exchange has a reputation for being volatile, which would scare off risk-averse investors. Nevertheless, the Japanese market is renowned for its resilience. Among the companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Softbank has proven exactly that.
  • Investing in High-Performing Companies: Japanese companies have built a reputation as hard workers since the reforms launched in the 2010s under Abenomics. That reputation is well deserved and has allowed Japanese companies to outperform for more than 10 years. If you buy Japanese stocks, you are investing in companies that put performance above all else. The Topix index reflects this golden run of companies with a total annual return of 13%.
  • The Growth of the Service Sector: Judging by the Nikkei, the companies that make up the index are geared towards the tertiary sector, and more precisely the services industry. Analysts are optimistic about a return to form for the service sector. The coronavirus crisis hit the sector’s performance hard.
  • The Bullish Trend of the Major Indices: Stock exchanges around the world have reached record levels over the past year. The stock exchanges in Japan are no exception. The upward trend begun by the Nikkei reflects this situation. Analysts expect the bullish trend to continue, even if it will not be as pronounced as in 2025.

Japan Stock Market – Which Are the Most Profitable Stocks to Buy?

Investing in the Japan stock market means investing in a multitude of companies spread across many industries. In fact, the companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange cover every sector of the economy. Japan’s economic fabric is well established, which makes it easy to see where demand is heading.

Service Sector Companies

Japan’s economy is geared towards services, with more than 70% of the population active in this sector. Companies operating in this field will therefore see stronger demand. In terms of profitability, however, it is the most powerful companies that will profit from this elevated demand. A company that already holds a competitive advantage over smaller players will generate more profit.

If you want to invest in this sector, it would be prudent to back the largest companies if you are risk averse. You can therefore buy stocks such as MITS UFJ FNL SP-ADR stock, which belongs to the banking sector, or Panasonic stock, which belongs to the technology sector.

TOP 5 Best Stocks on the Japan Stock Market

The companies that make up the Nikkei and the Topix issue highly attractive stocks. In principle, the most attractive stocks come from these two indices. The following stocks, available on XTB, are historic names that are still far from their peak.

  1. Toyota stock, JP3633400001 TOM: Toyota is undeniably Japan’s best-known carmaker. It accounts for more than 3.12% of the Topix index. Over fiscal year 2020-2025, Toyota lost more than 2600 billion yen in revenue. Its net result improved to a gain of more than 18 billion euros. Its revenue-to-net-income ratio is therefore satisfactory. (Buy Toyota stock)
  2. Sony stock, JP3435000009 SON1: Investing in Sony stock means investing in a multisector group spanning video games, music and more. Admittedly, Sony is going through a rough patch after recording a historic 13% loss on the stock market. The reason is Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Nevertheless, Sony will gradually move away from the rigid stance of its traditional publishing model.
  3. Softbank stock, JP3436100006 SFT: Softbank is a Japanese holding company that took the market by storm in 2025. In fact, Softbank went from red to black in the space of a year. The holding company posted a net loss of 8 billion before recording a net profit of 46 billion dollars. Here you have a stock tied to an extremely resilient company.
  4. Nintendo stock, JP3756600007 NTO: Nintendo is a benchmark in video games. It is a video game and console developer that has managed to survive and grow for years. Nintendo’s revenue exceeded 13.4 billion euros, an increase of 34.4% compared with fiscal year 2019-2020. If you are looking for stocks tied to a stable company, we urge you to buy Nintendo stock. (Buy Nintendo stock)
  5. Honda stock, JP3854600008 HDM: Alongside Toyota, Honda is renowned as a carmaker. For fiscal year 2020-2025, its revenue was 99.5 billion dollars. Honda posted a net profit of more than 5 billion dollars, an increase of more than 44%.

Sony Stock Price in Real Time

What Is the Japanese Stock Market Index?

Like every stock market in the world, the Japan stock market has its benchmark indices: the Nikkei, also known as the Nikkei 225 index. If you are wondering how to invest in the Nikkei, it pays to know how the index works first. The Nikkei is composed of the 225 largest Japanese companies by valuation. Its review takes effect at the beginning of the fourth quarter of the current year.

  • The Nikkei and its composition: The Nikkei is multisectorial, with activity areas spanning the three main production sectors. In practice, the index is made up of a multitude of services; however, companies from the sector remain in the majority. Unlike Euronext indices, which are weighted by market cap, the Nikkei is weighted by share prices. As a result, each company’s weight depends on the unit price of its shares. The companies that make up the Nikkei have a market cap of 25 billion yen or more. You are therefore investing in an index composed of large caps.
  • Topix index: The Tokyo Stock Price Index is the other best-known index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Like the Nikkei, it is made up of companies from the TSE’s first section. Unlike the Nikkei, however, the Topix is weighted by companies’ market cap. To join the index, a company must be worth at least 25 billion yen, just as for the Nikkei, and be listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. You can therefore invest in stock indices composed of Japan’s most powerful companies, whether directly or through a Japan ETF that tracks them.

Japan Stock Market Hours – Opening and Closing Times

The Tokyo Stock Exchange has a set schedule for its trading sessions. So when does the Tokyo Stock Exchange open? Trading hours run from 9:00 to 15:00. To work out the Japan stock market opening hours in French time, simply apply the 7-hour time difference with Paris in summer, and 8 hours in winter.

A one-hour break is observed between sessions, during which trading is temporarily suspended. The market break runs from 11:30 to 12:30.

Conclusion – Is Now the Ideal Time to Invest in the Japan Stock Market?

The global stock market is going through a golden period that bodes well for the years ahead. The Tokyo Stock Exchange is taking advantage of this situation. And thanks to the JPX’s strategies, it is managing to keep its leading position in the Asian financial market, and even to strengthen it. The JPX will grow stronger still and gradually chip away at the gap with the NYSE. It is therefore the right time to invest in Japanese stock exchanges.

See also: Palmares Bourse

Japanese Stocks List: Companies Listed on the Japan Stock Market

This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. The investments mentioned carry a risk of capital loss.

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Fondatrice de BK SEO Marketing
Cristina Balan est la fondatrice de BK SEO Marketing, société éditrice des plateformes Edubourse.com et TraderFrancophone.fr. Elle compte 15 ans d'expérience dans le courtage en ligne, dont 10 ans à la tête d'équipes commerciales chez XTB et Admirals (XTB 2011–2016, Admirals 2016–2021). Diplômée de l'ESCP Europe, elle a réussi l'examen de certification professionnelle AMF (janvier 2012) et a réussi l'examen CFA Level I (CFA Institute, 2011). Elle conçoit et supervise les contenus et analyses destinés aux investisseurs, avec un objectif : une information fiable, structurée et accessible.