Among the first investment banks to establish a branch in Japan, Morgan Stanley opened a representative office in Tokyo in 1970.

With more than 1,300 people in Japan, Morgan Stanley is one of the largest and most active foreign financial firms in the Japanese market, providing investment banking, sales & trading, research, real estate and investment management products and services.

Morgan Stanley's group companies in Japan, which operate under the Firm's holding company, Morgan Stanley Japan Holdings Co., Ltd., offer diverse array of businesses to governments, corporations and institutional clients.

In May 2010, Morgan Stanley joined force with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) to commence joint venture operations in the area of securities business in Japan, as part of the global strategic alliance. The joint venture has since been offering first-in-class financial services to the clients, leveraging the combined capabilities of Morgan Stanley’s global reach and financial expertise as well as MUFG’s expansive local client footprint.