Buffett's Japan Bet Nets Berkshire $24 Billion

Berkshire Hathaway's investments in Japanese trading companies have paid off big over the past 5 years.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway announced in 2020 that it had acquired stakes of over 5% in five major Japanese trading companies, totaling around $6.25 billion. In the years since, Berkshire has increased its holdings multiple times as the Japanese stock market has soared, with Buffett's bet now worth over $30 billion and netting the company $24 billion in gains.

Why it matters

Buffett's contrarian move to invest heavily in Japan, a market that had stagnated for decades, has paid off handsomely and highlights how international markets have outperformed the U.S. in recent years. The gains also demonstrate Buffett's ability to identify undervalued opportunities, even late in his career.

The details

Berkshire Hathaway financed much of the Japan bet through cheap yen-denominated debt, while the trading companies it invested in were paying out dividends of around 4%, covering the costs. Recent pro-growth and deregulatory policies in Japan, including the election of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on a stimulus-heavy agenda, have helped send the Japanese stock market to record highs, fueling Berkshire's massive gains.

  • In 2020, Berkshire Hathaway announced it had acquired positions in five major Japanese trading companies.
  • In 2023, Berkshire Hathaway upped its stakes in the Japanese companies.
  • In 2025, Berkshire Hathaway increased its holdings in the Japanese companies again.

The players

Warren Buffett

The legendary investor who retired as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway last year, but whose investment strategy continues to pay off for the company.

Berkshire Hathaway

The multinational conglomerate holding company founded by Warren Buffett, which has reaped massive gains from its investments in Japanese trading companies.

Sanae Takaichi

The Prime Minister of Japan since October, who has made ending "excessive fiscal austerity" a centerpiece of her economic agenda, helping to fuel the country's stock market boom.

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What they’re saying

“It's worked out very well so far, but we'll be in these stocks 10, 20 years.”

— Warren Buffett (CNBC)

The takeaway

Buffett's Japan bet demonstrates the value of looking beyond the U.S. for investment opportunities, as international markets have outperformed the domestic market in recent years. The gains also highlight Buffett's ability to identify undervalued assets and execute long-term, contrarian investment strategies, even late in his career.