From July to September period, Japan's government-managed pension investment fund recorded a surplus of 14.4 trillion yen. This profitable performance is mainly attributed to the increased value of domestic and foreign equity holdings. The robust return comes amid concerns over the sustainability of the pension system to support the ageing population of Japan.

The issue of pensions has always been a hot topic in Japan, given the country's rapidly aging population and the pressure it puts on social security schemes. Such a surplus and effective management of the pension fund is extremely important and closely watched, as it directly impacts the financial security of a significant percentage of the population in their retirement.

Unlike Japan, pension schemes in the US and EU are managed at the individual state or country level respectively, and are often heavily reliant on contributions from current workers. The surplus in Japan’s national pension fund indicates a more successful balancing of investments and outgoings than often seen in Western pension systems.