Japan has been favored by international capital underpinned by its strong economic momentum, 2020 Olympics, expanding hospitality industry to name a few. International investors’ flights for safe haven in the late market cycle as well as amid geopolitical uncertainties also had been giving a tailwind for Japanese real estate market with its political stability and healthy real estate performance.
However, like in the other markets, the COVID-19 outbreak is exerting downward pressures on the Japanese market. The country now had to postpone the long-awaited Olympics, severely damaging the hospitality industry. Now the Japanese government’s rescue package, which is expected to mitigate the COVID-19 impact, amounts to 40% of GDP, with unprecedented Fiscal Expenditure nearly three times compared to the package during the previous Global Financial Crisis. Nonetheless, it is idealistic timing to re-assess the value proposition of the Japanese market.
Cushman & Wakefield’s Todd Olson, Executive Managing Director for North Asia and Country Head for Japan, moderated a roundtable discussion at the recently concluded Asia Pacific Real Estate Association (APREA) webinar. The webinar was attended by top investors active in Japan. The panelists discussed the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak and strategies for the Japanese property markets beyond COVID-19. They also covered the following topics:
- What are base, downside and upside scenarios for Japanese property market?
- How investors and developers should align an investment strategy
- Are there any investment opportunities emerging alongside this turbulence?
- What would be the new normal in Japanese property investments?
Watch the webinar replay here: