InsuranceJapan's insurance industry looks to alternative assets to boost returnsNearly half of Japanese insurers say they would increase their allocations to senior direct lending. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)YASUHA MINAMI and KENSHO MOTOWAKIMay 21, 2026 06:59 JSTTOKYO -- Sumitomo Life Insurance and Daiichi Life Insurance are expanding investments in private credit, seeking to achieve higher returns as their asset rebalancing has run its course. Read NextFinancePrivate credit funds attract Japan investors, more than doubling in 1 yearBondsJapan insurers show cautious stance on JGBs amid soaring yieldsInsuranceHalf of Japan's major life insurers to expand domestic bond holdingsFinanceJapanese regulator probes risks to major banks from private creditFinanceSMFG and Nippon Life weigh $3bn private credit fund for deal financingInsuranceJapan's surging reinsurance payments deepen national services deficitTrading AsiaKKR, Blackstone turn to Japanese investors amid US private asset jittersInterviewBarclays keeping eye on volatile private credit market, CEO saysLatest on InsuranceInsuranceHalf of Japan's major life insurers to expand domestic bond holdingsInsurancePrudential 'still very committed' to Japan market: CEOInsurancePrudential Japan's fraud allegations an organizational issue, company says