Core Viewpoint - Japan's $1.8 trillion Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) is considering a shift towards impact investing, prompting a broader adjustment among the country's money managers [1][2]. Group 1: Impact Investing Adoption - The GPIF opened the door to impact strategies in March, leading at least four other Japanese pension funds to update or revise their investment policies [2]. - Asset managers are adjusting their approaches to align with the growing demand for impact strategies from pension funds [2]. Group 2: Government Support and Societal Challenges - The Japanese government supports the shift towards impact investing as a means to address real-world challenges, including an aging society and low gender equality rankings [3]. - Japan ranked 118th out of 146 countries in a gender-equality review last year [3]. Group 3: Economic Growth and Investment Focus - GPIF President Kazuto Uchida believes that targeting environmental and social goals through investments will ultimately lead to economic and capital market growth [4]. - Impact investing in Japan is expected to focus on areas such as climate, healthcare, wellbeing, and inclusivity [6]. Group 4: Measurement and Framework - Impact investing aims to achieve both profit and social/environmental outcomes, utilizing standardized impact measurement frameworks [7]. - The United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals serve as a roadmap for deploying capital in impact investments [7].