Daiwa, JP Morgan lead Japan equity fund charge

Daiwa SB Investments launched a focused Japan equities fund in April that raised a modest ¥30 billion ($36 million). Despite its small size, it represents a new trend: Japanese fund managers launching equity products. Since 2008, virtually every product introduced or heavily marketed in Japan has involved paying monthly dividends, because most investors are elderly people relying on the income to supplement pensions and annuities. As mutual fund sales have slumped in most of Asi…