When the shogun of value investing in Japan says "jump", my only possible response is "How high?".

The Japanese stock market has been one of the bright stories this year UP +29% relative US stocks which are up +15%.

The rally in Japanese stocks in 2023 has been broad-based. What's interesting about Japanese stocks is the rally has not be by singular sectors or themes (like the US) but by but rather a more broad-based rally.

Japan has been put on the map by global investors since Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway $Berkshire Hathaway(BRK.B)$ made their earlier investments in Japanese commodity trading firms.

Buffett disclosed in August 2020 that he acquired slightly more than 5% in each of Japan's top five trading houses: Itochu Corp, Marubeni Corp, Mitsubishi Corp, Mitsui, and Sumitomo Corp and on 19th June disclosed he has RAISED his stakes to 8.5%.

Furthermore, the rising tensions between the US and China have also put Japan on a path to become a more important manufacturer of physical goods for Western companies to reduce their supply chain risks.

Japan was known for decades to be a hunting ground for DEEP VALUE stocks. Fast forward to Japan in 2023 and investors can still go on deep value hunting, but this segment is what Warren Buffett would call looking for cigar boxes with maybe one last cigar puff. 🐯🚬

Am I invested into Japanese stocks?

Hai sensei.  [Grin] 💯🚀💴💹