Following actions in 2018 by major Japanese investors to extend their footprints in global real estate markets, Asterisk Realty & Placement Agency sees strong motivation for global real estate investments this year by all types of Japanese institutional investors, including pension funds, financial institutions, insurance companies, listed REITs and real estate developers.

Japan’s ¥165.6 trillion (US$1.5 trillion) Government Pension Investment Fund, the world’s largest pension fund, appointed Nomura Asset Management as gatekeeper and Pantheon and DBJ Asset Management as fund of funds managers for its core strategy global infrastructure mandate during the first half of 2018. In September 2018, GPIF selected Asset Management One as a gatekeeper, and CBRE Global Investment Partners as its fund of funds manager for GPIF’s core strategy global real estate mandate.

Throughout 2018, GPIF also emphasised promoting ESG investments, steadily repeating its importance,