Shizuoka Bank is strengthening regional economies while expanding abroad, blending local trust with global ambition to support innovation, sustainability, and growth across Japan and Asia.

From Hokuriku Region and Japan’s northern heartlands, Hokuhoku Financial Group, with Hokuriku Bank and Hokkaido Bank at its core, is driving regional renewal by uniting finance, technology, and community to spark sustainable growth across borders and generations.

Life at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester is as jolly as ever after 180 years, but the diverse degrees on offer reflect the challenges of 21st-century farming. Kate Green charts a history of seismic change for the industry and Mary Skipwith talks to students past and present

Okinawa Financial Group is driving regional growth through innovation, digital transformation, and sustainable finance and turns Japan’s southern islands into a model for inclusive development and a future hub for Asian commerce.

From island-hopping in southerly Okinawa to farm experiences in rural Aomori and skiing in far northern Hokkaido, this diverse archipelago offers intriguing local culture, ancient history and epic wilderness experiences around every corner — and deeper exploration reaps huge rewards

In Japan’s manufacturing heartland, the Bank of Nagoya is changing regional finance, supporting Aichi’s industrial base, driving sustainable growth and financing the shift towards a carbon-neutral, innovation-driven industry.