Dealmaking Booms in Japan as Most of Asia Suffers Through Bust

Dealmaking is booming in Japan.

Management buyouts are on the rise. The stock market is nearing an all-time high, giving companies more scope for acquisitions. And the government and investors are pressuring companies to bolster growth. All of this is adding up to a wave of deals in the country.

“This can be a year that we will remember as the dawning year of Japan’s M&A era,” said Akira Kiyota, head of global mergers and acquisitions at Nomura’s main brokerage subsidiary. “We will likely see significant growth both in the number and volumes of deals.”

The volume ...