Cool Japan Fund
Public-private fund founded in 2013 making direct company and fund investments to support the overseas growth of Japanese products, services and technologies.
Cool Japan Fund is a public-private fund founded in 2013 that makes direct investments in both companies and funds. Its mandate is to support Japanese businesses in bringing the country's products, services and technologies to overseas markets, and to develop international demand for Japanese lifestyle and culture - an objective framed around the sustainable growth of Japan's economy rather than financial return alone. The fund operates across Japan and overseas markets, and is willing to pursue opportunities considered too risky or too difficult for private investors to undertake on their own.
Sector coverage is broad, spanning content, food, clothing, housing-related products and services, advanced technology, leisure, local and traditional products, education and tourism. Investments are directed towards businesses and projects with significant policy value, and the fund is explicitly structured to prioritise this criterion. Beyond capital, portfolio companies receive business matching with partners, operational support intended to strengthen portfolio value, and introductions to government organisations, local governments, corporate counterparties and advisory firms.
For candidates, the relevant context is the fund's dual mandate and its public-private governance: investment decisions sit alongside a policy remit promoting Japanese culture and lifestyle abroad, and the fund's connectivity to government and industry is a core part of its operating model rather than an ancillary benefit.