Ami Asami

Research Translator

Wells Fargo Securities Japan

Tokyo, Japan

In her role as a research translator with Wells Fargo Securities in Tokyo, Ami Asami has had the opportunity to significantly develop professionally since joining the firm in 2015.

“The main reason for joining Wells Fargo was the rare opportunity to build a research translation framework in Tokyo from scratch, which also fit well with my previous experience,” says Ami, who has over 10 years’ experience as a credit and equity analyst working for leading U.S. financial institutions in Japan, including roles at JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs.

Her current responsibility at Wells Fargo Securities Japan is to translate research reports on structured products, economics, and corporate credit from English into Japanese for Japanese clients.

While Wells Fargo Japan has just about 70 TM’s, its presence and services are being recognized rapidly by Japanese Financial Institutions who are interested in more exposure to U.S. Capital Markets. Hence the firm offers a lot of growth opportunities to talented individuals.

Global expertise with a local focus

Ami has been in her current position since the launch of the firm’s research translation effort in Tokyo in 2015. “Unlike in other Asia Pacific countries, Japan’s foreign financial institutions usually translate analysts’ reports, because English is not widely used in business.”

Each year, Ami translates about 200 reports for local Wells Fargo clients and continuously adds value to customers. The analytical research reports cover a broad range of topics: credit, economics, and structured products.

The Wells Fargo client base in Japan – financial institutions such as banks, life insurance companies, and asset managers – appreciates that Wells Fargo provides its excellent U.S. research in the local language.

“My job is a bit unique at Wells Fargo, as it requires not just that I translate fixed- income research from English into Japanese, but also that I understand what the analysts want to convey and what investment decision-makers on the client side need to know. This can be challenging but at the same time very fulfilling – this is what attracted me to this role.”

Exploring new sectors

Unlike in previous jobs at other financial institutions, where she was covering a single sector, in her current role Ami has expanded her coverage to several sectors and has acquired a well-rounded understanding of fixed income markets.

“From the start, I have been receiving full support from my manager in the U.S. and the Wells Fargo fixed-income analysts are also very responsive when I approach them for more information on a particular topic. They actually encourage me to study more about the sectors they cover. Every day I have the chance to learn something new and to grow in the job.”

Ami is also a member of the Wells Fargo Japan volunteering forum, where she has managed several volunteer projects mainly providing support to Japanese cities suffering natural disasters and to children with special needs. She has also participated for three consecutive years in the Financial Industry in Tokyo (FIT) For Charity Run, an annual marathon in the Japanese capital in support of local non-profits.

Encouragement to grow

The main difference Ami sees between Wells Fargo and its competitors is the cooperative spirit of Wells Fargo team members and the comfortable and supportive working atmosphere at the organization.

“If I need to summarize why Wells Fargo is a good place to work, I have this to say: not only does the bank have a long-term view of business, but it also encourages you to grow and improve.”