Background to young people’s investment fever and “FOMO”

October 4th is "Securities Investment Day". The securities industry and others are targeting young people in an effort to stimulate interest in investing. In recent years, young people are said to be proactive in investing. It has been pointed out that FOMO is what holds young people back. What does it mean?

Anxiety about being encouraged to invest by people around you

A 28-year-old female office worker living in Tokyo started investing last year. Set aside one-third of your salary each month in anticipation of future home purchases. Although she continues to invest diligently, she says, ``Ever since I was a student, I was anxious every time I heard friends and relatives say, ``I've started investing,'' or ``I should get a NISA.''

However, although I had a vague feeling that I needed to start investing, I was so busy with my work and personal life that I didn't have time to research things like securities companies and stock selection. You won't be able to withdraw your money right away when you need it, and will you really make a profit in the first place? I couldn't shake that anxiety and couldn't take any action.

At that time, a senior colleague at my company recommended a robo-advisor service that automatically decides where to invest and how to manage the investment. I started using it because I thought, ``If it's automatic, I can start using it.'' If I continued with it, I felt like I could make a profit, and as I started buying the company's stock at my workplace, my reluctance to invest began to fade. "I feel like I'm less anxious now and have more peace of mind."

According to a survey by the Asset Management Association, the number of people in their 20s who own stocks or investment trusts increased from 11% in 2018 to 29% in 2025. The number of respondents in their 30s also increased from 17% to 37%, the same level as those in their 40s and 50s.

The number of NISA accounts has also increased. According to a survey by the Financial Services Agency, people in their 20s had approximately 3.37 million accounts at the end of 2025, about 1.3 times as many as at the end of March 2024. Although there are some accounts that do not make purchases, the growth is large compared to other generations.

“FOMO” that supports young people

Factors that drive young people to invest...