Japan research house starts Asia sales

A new boutique equities research house, Japaninvest, has begun targeting non-Japanese institutional investors in Japan and Asia for its independent services. The firm's Tokyo-based co-founder and managing partner, Rupert Eastwood, says the market downturn and the fallout of research-related scandals in the United States have created a unique opportunity to launch a new firm dedicated to Japanese research. Japaninvest began regional sales after bringing Chika Masuzawa on board from Mizuho Securities; she reports to Mark Burges Watson, the London-based principal sales partner.