Japan/Asia Long-Short, LightStream Research

Mio Kato

Over 15 years analysing Japanese and Asian stocks from a long/short perspective

I focus on cyclically driven sectors such as Gaming, Factory Automation and Autos

An eclectic background as a long-short analyst, upper management at a financial data startup through its listing, and as the founder of a team analysing big/alternative data, all of which supports independent and differentiated views... we hope

An appreciation for Mathematics drives the development of a "Micro-Quantamental" process which can provide a data-driven, historically-informed and semi-automated foundation upon which to layer more qualitative and judgemental analysis, thus improving investment decision-making speed and accuracy

Japan/Asia Long-Short

Japan Reflation Take... 4? - The End of Deleveraging

Wage Growth Is About to Return to Japan and Could Lead to Labour Market Reform

Japan : Q2 Sector & Company Performance Review

Japan: Sector Weight 3M Change - Poles Apart

Long-Short Analysis on Japan, Asia and the World

LightStream Research

LightStream conducts quantitatively rigorous and data-driven analysis with a focus on Japan and Asia.

We consistently cover the Tech, Consumer and Industrial sectors, and provide ECM and Events coverage more broadly.

We supplement traditional qualitative insights from company relationships with a robust quantitative foundation that examines as much historical data as is available.
We further refine the accuracy of our insights and calls through the use of alternative data to flesh out current trends, and through a valuation framework that emphasises non-superficial peer group selection and a proper attempt to understand the metrics and changes that have driven security valuations in the past.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<p>Roughly a year ago we discussed our view that wage inflation would return to Japan in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/wage-growth-is-about-to-return-to-japan-and-could-lead-to-labour-market-reform" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:11589">Wage Growth Is About to Return to Japan and Could Lead to Labour Market Reform</a>. Our view was based on the return to health of local SMEs which we discussed at that time in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/japan-reflation-take-4-the-end-of-deleveraging" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="insights:11198">Japan Reflation Take... 4? - The End of Deleveraging</a>. A year on, conditions have moved in the direction we expected and the first signs of labour reform are coming through as <a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Five-things-to-know-about-Japan-s-work-reform-law" target="_blank">overtime hours have been capped at 100 per month</a>. The bill is not…</p>

Roughly a year ago we discussed our view that wage inflation would return to Japan in Wage Growth Is About to Return to Japan and Could Lead to Labour Market Reform. Our view was based on the return to health of local SMEs which we discussed at that time in Japan Reflation Take... 4? - The End of Deleveraging. A year on, conditions have moved in the direction we expected and the first signs of labour reform are coming through as overtime hours have been capped at 100 per month. The bill is not…

Japan's Long-Term Macro Trend Change - Time Has Defeated Deflation Where the BOJ Could Not