San-in Godo Bank Partners With NTT Data and Securitize Japan on Tokenized Bonds

San-in Godo Bank said it has signed a three-way partnership with NTT Data and Securitize Japan to study tokenized bond issuance and direct distribution. According to ChainCatcher, the project will assess whether the bank can issue bond-type security tokens on blockchain and sell them directly to local and regional investors. The bank will contribute its local customer base and lending credibility, while NTT Data will provide systems integration for traditional financial infrastructure. Securitize Japan will supply tokenization contract protocols and compliance tools for investor lifecycle management. The partners said the initial focus is on evaluating a bank-led issuance and sales model rather than using intermediary broker distribution. If the structure passes legal and technical review, it could reduce underwriting channel costs and lower fixed issuance friction. The article said the effort reflects regional economic revitalization goals in Japan, where local banks support small businesses and public projects. It added that tokenized bond issuance could make it easier for regional investors to participate in local projects and give local companies a more direct financing channel. The report also said Japan's digital asset market has been evolving in early September, with national firms and local banks both expanding into tokenized securities. It said the San-in Godo Bank collaboration suggests STOs are moving beyond early-stage experimentation and may see faster development in Japan's regional capital markets in the second half of 2026.