MUFG’s Trust Division to Tokenize $681M Osaka Tower for Retail Investors

Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking, the trust arm of Japan's largest financial group, has acquired a prime Osaka high-rise for ¥100 billion ($681 million) with plans to democratize access through digital securities. The landmark transaction positions MUFG as a pioneer in Japan's tokenized real estate market, where property tokens dominate 80% of the country's $1.3 billion digital securities issuance since 2021.

The dual-track offering will create fractional ownership opportunities for retail investors via blockchain tokens while maintaining traditional REIT structures for institutional buyers like life insurers. This strategic MOVE capitalizes on Japan's growing appetite for alternative investments, though secondary market liquidity remains limited as the sector matures.

Unlike Europe's bond-dominated tokenization efforts, Japan's digital securities landscape has become a proving ground for real estate applications. The Osaka Digital Exchange's developing infrastructure may soon provide the missing liquidity piece as institutional heavyweights like MUFG lend credibility to the asset class.