Fukugu is a licensed payment infrastructure company built in Japan — registered since 2017, processing over ¥168.9 billion in payments, and operating across enterprise, platform, and consumer use cases.
Fukugu was founded in Tokyo in 2017 with a clear purpose: to build payment infrastructure in Japan that is robust enough for enterprises, trusted by regulators, and accessible to everyday users.
Licensed as a Type 2 Fund Transfer Service Provider under the Payment Services Act, Fukugu operates regulated payment rails that handle the complexity of Japan's financial and compliance requirements — allowing our clients to focus on their products and services rather than regulatory infrastructure.
We work alongside banks and financial institutions, not in competition with them, integrating with the banking system to deliver reliable and compliant payment execution.
Our infrastructure-first approach means that every service — whether an API for a fintech platform, a dashboard for a corporate treasury team, or Fukupochi, our application-based interface for individuals — operates on the same licensed, audited, and continuously monitored payment rails.
AML/CFT controls, transaction monitoring, and regulatory reporting are built into every payment flow — not added as a layer on top.
We operate the regulated rails. User-facing applications are built on top — keeping the licensed core stable and independent.
Deeply integrated with Japan's financial ecosystem, with cross-border capabilities and a design built for global interoperability.
Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Fintech Founder with almost 20 years of experience spanning the digital payment space, M&A execution, corporate strategy, and award-winning equity research. Proven track record of leading transactions in excess of US$1 billion and delivering top-decile returns for institutional clients across Asia-Pacific. Currently leading a regulated FX platform across four jurisdictions — Hong Kong, Japan, Australia, and Malaysia — bridging traditional finance with institutional-grade digital infrastructure.
Fukugu holds a Type 2 Fund Transfer Service Provider licence issued by the Kanto Local Finance Bureau — permitting the execution of regulated fund transfers on behalf of clients under Japan's Payment Services Act.
From a focused fintech start to a trusted infrastructure provider — Fukugu's history is one of steady, compliance-led growth.
Curfex Japan K.K. established in Tokyo with a clear purpose — to build regulated payment infrastructure for Japan. Invited into the FinoLab community. Core banking partnerships begun and payment rails development started.
Fund Transfer Operator licence secured from the Kanto Local Finance Bureau (No. 00059). Joined the Japan Payment Service Association (JPSA) and the Fintech Association of Japan (FAJ). Outbound payout and AML/CFT compliance infrastructure built out. Payment rails completed.
First 100 corporate clients onboarded. Over 25,000 transactions processed — early validation of the platform's reliability and compliance framework.
Core IT infrastructure strengthened with SilverLake, renowned for enterprise banking infrastructure development. Platform prepared for scale.
Corporate client base grew close to 10× from initial onboarding. Cumulative transactions processed growing more than 17×. Cumulative payments processed surpassing ¥168.9 billion. Collection product line launched.
Renamed from Curfex Japan K.K. to Fukugu K.K., reflecting the company's evolution into a broader payment infrastructure platform. Infrastructure restructured to support enterprise, platform, and consumer use cases.
Among the first licensed operators in Japan to implement Account Name Verification — confirming recipient account names against bank records before any transfer is executed, stopping misdirected payments and fraud at source.
Fukugu's consumer payment service launched, built directly on the licensed infrastructure. Dashboard live now. Mobile app in development.
Talk to our team — whether you're exploring API access, enterprise integration, or a partnership.