Japanese stocks have enjoyed a good run in the past year with the Nikkei 225 up ~45% in the past year. Comparatively, the S&P500 was up ~31% in the past year.
Let’s just say you’d be in a pretty good position if you had invested in the best Japan ETFs alongside with the usual S&P500 ETFs.
Here, we take a closer look at the top 10 best performing Japan stocks, based on the their past 1-year performance:
Best Performing Japanese Stocks
| Japan Stock | Ticker | 1 year performance | Market Cap | Sector |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JAPAN ENGINE CORPORATION | 6016 | 903.17% | 35.356B JPY | Producer Manufacturing |
| SAKURA INTERNET INC | 3778 | 890.32% | 223.988B JPY | Technology Services |
| MICRONICS JAPAN CO | 6871 | 488.6% | 289.618B JPY | Technology Services |
| GENETEC CORPORATION | 4492 | 485.74% | 10.885B JPY | Electronic Technology |
| FORSIDE CO LTD | 2330 | 447.83% | 14.239B JPY | Consumer Services |
| NAMURA SHIPBUILDING CO | 7014 | 444.44% | 129.079B JPY | Producer Manufacturing |
| SUMISEKI HOLDINGS INC | 1514 | 394.55% | 89.826B JPY | Distribution Services |
| TOWA CORP | 6315 | 358.4% | 219.271B JPY | Producer Manufacturing |
| NOMURA MICRO SCIENCE CO LTD | 6254 | 353.06% | 163.519B JPY | Producer Manufacturing |
| KAIHAN CO LTD | 3133 | 351.25% | 63.742B JPY | Consumer Services |
If you’re new to the Japan market, you’ll probably not heard of these companies.
Let’s take a close look at each of these Japan stock, find out how they managed to deliver such great returns and whether they still deserve a spot in your portfolio:
1) Japan Engine Corporation (6016): +903.17%
Japan Engine Corporation develops, sells and repairs low speed marine engines. Its engines are known for their low fuel consumption. They power marine carriers and ships built by major shipbuilders in Japan.
One of its major shareholders is Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (TSO:7011)
2) Sakura Internet (3778): +890.32%
Sakura Internet is a cloud service provider and data center operator with 5 locations across Japan.
Fun fact: They are also the company behind SAKURA Mobile Limited. If you have travelled to Japan, you might have used their SIM card too.
The AI boom and the news that the Japanese government will be working with Sakura Internet to build a supercomputer in Ishikari city to develop generative AI had been a boon to the company’s share price performance.
3) Micronics Japan Co (6871): 488.6%
Micronics Japan designs and sells probe cards used to inspect semiconductors and integrated circuits.
They would be a benefiter of the AI boom and surge in semiconductor demand.
4) Genetec Corporation (4492): +485.74%
Genetec Corporation provides embedded software and hardware systems. They support the mobile communications, car electronics and digital home appliances industries via their embedded software solutions. Their hardware solutions are used in the 3D computer-aided design (CAD) space.
They also offer a global positioning solution app that allows users to locate their loved ones during a natural disaster.
5) Foreside Japan Co (2230): +447.83%
Foreside Co is a rather complex business.
It has six business segments that include the production of e-books, management of celebrities and related Intellectual Property, manufacturing and sales of prizes for crane game machines and other similar games, real estate, investment banking and even cryptocurrency mining.
6) Namura Shipbuilding (7014):+444.44%
As its name suggests, Namura Shipbuilding is a Japanese shipbuilder. On top of ship building, Namura Shipbuilding is also involved in the installation of bridges, floodgates and steel structures.
2023 was a good year for shipbuilding with newbuilding orderbook recording a 3% year on year growth. Namura Shipbuilding would have benefited from this trend.
7) Sumiseki Holdings (1514): +394.55%
Sumiseki Holdings is a coal mining company that also manufactures and sells artificial diamonds and crushed stones.
8) Towa Corp (6315): +358.4%
Towa corporation specializes in resin sealing and manufacturing process of semiconductors and other electronic components.
9) Nomura Micro Science (6254): 353.06%
Nomura Micro Science builds and sells ultra pure water systems that include water treatment solutions and solutions for the purification of water.
Its solutions are not only used by water treatment plants, but also in other industries like:
- semiconductor manufacturing factories with a demand for ultrapure water,
- pharmaceutical production where ultrapure water is required to prevent contamination,
- and more.
10) Kaihan Co (3133): +351.25%
Kaihan develops and operates restaurants in Japan. The company also distributes seafood in.
More ways to invest?
Looking for more Japan stock ideas? Check out our list of Undervalued Japan stocks here.
Or, you could let the pros do the work by investing in this active ETF instead.
