Tokyo intensifies efforts to be global financial centre

Tokyo

THE lure of being named a "global finance centre" or even a regional financial capital never seems to lose its attraction for Asian cities and now Tokyo is having another crack at achieving the goal - before Shanghai or possibly Frankfurt pip it to the post.

Some see the quest by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government for "Global Financial City Tokyo" status as timely. London may be wishing itself into a post-Brexit financial wilderness while Shanghai may be hobbled by lack of full renminbi convertibility and Frankfurt by over-regulation.

Prompted by Tokyo governor Yoriko Koike (a possible future rival to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe) a panel of Japanese and f…