Morningstar Awards for Investing Excellence Japan 2026: Winners Announced
TOKYO, 12 March -- Morningstar, Inc. (Nasdaq: MORN), a leading provider of independent investment insights, announced the winners of the 2026 Morningstar Awards for Investing Excellence in Japan at an awards ceremony held in Tokyo.
The Morningstar Awards for Investing Excellence honor asset managers and funds that Morningstar’s global manager research team has highly rated. Selections are based on a rigorous combination of quantitative and qualitative analysis, evaluating long-term risk-adjusted performance, forward-looking assessments, and overall investment merit.
There are two types of Morningstar awards: the Morningstar Category Awards and the Morningstar Asset Manager Awards.
“These awards recognize the investment strategies and managers who are committed to putting investors first. Based on global, rigorous quantitative data, combined with forward-looking qualitative research, Morningstar has awarded the Japan-domiciled funds and asset managers that are well positioned to provide long-term value to investors. This year’s winners have demonstrated a strong commitment to meeting investor needs amid market volatility and rapid change. We extend our congratulations to the 2026 award winners,” said Daisuke Motori, Director of Manager Research for Japan at Morningstar.
The 2026 Morningstar Awards for Investing Excellence winners in Japan are:
Morningstar Asset Manager Awards |
Fidelity International |
Morningstar Category Awards |
Winner/ Finalist |
Winner/Finalist |
Japan Equity |
Winner |
iShares Core Nikkei 225 ETF (BlackRock Japan) |
Finalist |
iShares Core TOPIX ETF (BlackRock Japan) |
Finalist |
DAIWA SUMIGIN DC JAPAN STOCK FUND (Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management) |
World Equity |
Winner |
PineBridge World Equity Open (PineBridge Investments Japan) |
Finalist |
iShares Core MSCI Kokusai ETF (BlackRock Japan) |
Finalist |
eMAXIS Slim Global Equity Fund (Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management) |
Reit |
Winner |
MAXIS High Yield J-REIT ETF (Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management) |
Finalist |
Fidelity J-REIT Active Fund Asset Growth (FIL Investments (Japan)) |
Finalist |
MAXIS J-REIT Core ETF (Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management) |
Bond |
Winner |
PIMCO Income Strategy Fund (USD-JPY Hedged ) (Semi-annual Settlement Type) (Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management) |
Finalist |
NEXT FUNDS International Bond FTSE World Government Bond (Nomura Asset Management) |
Finalist |
NEXT FUNDS Japan Bond NOMURA-BPI Exchange Traded Fund (Nomura Asset Management) |
Allocation |
Winner |
Sumitomo Mitsui DC Pension Balance 70 (Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management) |
Finalist |
Daiwa Life Balance 70 (Daiwa Asset Management) |
Finalist |
Nomura World 6 Assets Diversified Fund Growth (Nomura Asset Management) |
Methodology
These awards are determined by a combination of risk-adjusted medium- to long-term performance track records and Morningstar’s forward-looking rating for funds, the Morningstar Medalist Rating™, including its Parent pillar component. The Medalist Rating is set on a five-tier scale running from Gold, Silver, Bronze, Neutral and Negative at the share class level. The full methodology for the awards is available here.
About Morningstar, Inc.
Morningstar, Inc. is a leading provider of independent investment insights in North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. The Company offers an extensive line of products and services for individual investors, financial advisors, asset managers and owners, retirement plan providers and sponsors, institutional investors in the debt and private capital markets, and alliances and redistributors. Morningstar provides data and research insights on a wide range of investment offerings, including managed investment products, publicly listed companies, private capital markets, debt securities, and real-time global market data. Morningstar also offers investment management services through its investment advisory subsidiaries, with approximately $378 billion in AUMA as of Dec. 31, 2025. The Company operates through wholly-owned subsidiaries in 32 countries. For more information, visit www.morningstar.com/company. Follow Morningstar on X @MorningstarInc.
Morningstar’s Manager Research Group
Morningstar’s Manager Research Group consists of various wholly owned subsidiaries of Morningstar, Inc. including, but not limited to, Morningstar Research Services LLC. Morningstar Manager Research provides independent, fundamental analysis on managed investment strategies. Morningstar views are expressed in the form of Morningstar Medalist Ratings, which are derived through research of three key pillars—People, Process, and Parent. The Morningstar Medalist Rating is the summary expression of Morningstar’s forward-looking analysis of investment strategies as offered via specific vehicles using a rating scale of Gold, Silver, Bronze, Neutral, and Negative. A global research team issues detailed research reports on strategies that span vehicle, asset class, and geography. Medalist Ratings are not statements of fact, nor are they credit or risk ratings, and should not be used as the sole basis for investment decisions. A Medalist Rating is not intended to be nor is a guarantee of future performance. This press release is for informational purposes only; references to securities should not be considered an offer or solicitation to buy or sell the securities.
Medalist Ratings are not statements of fact, nor are they credit or risk ratings, and should not be used as the sole basis for investment decisions. A Medalist Rating is not intended to be nor is a guarantee of future performance anddoes not constitute a recommendation of any investment decision
This press release is for informational purposes only; references to securities should not be considered an offer or solicitation to buy or sell the securities.
©2026 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
MORN-R
Media Contact: Yumiko Nakamura, yumiko.nakamura@morningstar.com, 813 4545 2546