As financial and economic realities shift, Japanese trading houses must prove they are more than a value play. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Takuya Fujisawa, Keigo Yoshida, Shinya Sawai and Reuters)

It's crunch time for Japan's Buffett-backed trading houses

Mitsubishi Corp. and Mitsui & Co. must retain investor faith amid cloudy outlook

MITSURU OBE

February 10, 2025 06:00 JST

TOKYO -- Japan's trading houses stand at a critical juncture less than two years after receiving a personal visit and endorsement from billionaire investor Warren Buffett.

During a trip to Tokyo in April 2023, Buffett told Nikkei he is "very proud" of his investments in Itochu, Mitsubishi Corp., Mitsui & Co., Sumitomo and Marubeni. Berkshire Hathaway, for which Buffett serves as chairman and CEO, started investing in the five trading houses in 2019, disclosing a 5% ownership in each on Aug. 31, 2020.