The performance of Japan’s banks has been relatively weak in recent years, but the figures could worsen over the coming 12 months as the impact of the huge earthquake that hit the north-east of the country earlier this year reveals itself in the banks’ data. The Banker’s Top 100 Japan rankings are compiled using data taken at the end of March 2011, the same month as the catastrophe.
The profitability and return on assets of the Japanese banks has been relatively low, although it has grown on 2010’s figures. Hokuetsu Bank recorded the largest profit on average capital in Japan, with 16.99%, but this number pales in comparison to banks in some other Asian economies. Pakistan, which is the highest scoring country for profits on average capital in The Banker's Top 1000 World Banks rankings, has an average profit on average capital of 36.41%.
