Overview
Fund objective
The Sub-fund aims to outperform (after deduction of costs) the TOPIX, as stated in sterling, over rolling five-year periods by investing in 60 to 80 holdings.
The manager believes this is an appropriate benchmark given the investment policy of the Fund and the approach taken by the manager when investing. In addition, the manager believes an appropriate performance comparison for this Fund is the Investment Association Japan Sector.
There is no guarantee that this objective will be achieved over any time period and actual investment returns may differ from this objective, particularly over shorter time periods.
Investment proposition
Strategy behind the fund
Japan Core GrowthShare price and charges
Share class
B, IncPrice
164.70p% change
1.67%Yield
1.9%Ex-dividend (XD)
NOngoing charges*
0.64%Initial charge
0%Minimum investment
£100,000Minimum top up
£1,000Fund facts
Fund launch date
4 July 2016
Fund size
£255.40m
The Investment Association sector
Japan
Comparative Index
TOPIX (in sterling)
Active share
82%**
Annual turnover
13%
Guideline number of holdings
60-80
Current number of holdings
65
Style
Income & Growth
XD Date
Last day of June and December each year
Distribution
Last day of August and February each year
Pricing
Valuation point 10am daily, swinging single price
Fund settlement cycle
Trade date plus three business days (T+3)
**Relative to TOPIX. Source: Baillie Gifford & Co, Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Meet the managers
Risk Warnings
Risk Introduction
Investment markets can go down as well as up and market conditions can change rapidly. The value of an investment in the Fund, and any income from it, can fall as well as rise and investors may not get back the amount invested. The specific risks associated with the Fund include:
Custody
Custody of assets involves a risk of loss if a custodian becomes insolvent or breaches duties of care.
Single Country
The Fund's exposure to a single market and currency may increase share price movements.
Foreign Currency
The Fund has exposure to a foreign currency and changes in the rate of exchange will cause the value of any investment, and income from it, to fall as well as rise and you may not get back the amount invested.
Volatility
The Fund's share price can be volatile due to movements in the prices of the underlying holdings and the basis on which the Fund is priced.
Further Information
Further details of the risks associated with investing in the Fund can be found in the Key Investor Information Document or the Prospectus, copies of which are available at bailliegifford.com.
Index disclaimer
Complaints
In the first instance, clients should contact their normal Client Contact with any concerns. Alternatively, or for those clients who do not have a direct client contact assigned, complaints can be emailed to Baillie Gifford’s Compliance Department at: InstitutionalComplaints@bailliegifford.com. A summary document which contains details on Baillie Gifford’s complaints management policy is available upon request. All material complaints are recorded in an in-house incident management system and are escalated to, and dealt with by, members of staff of suitable seniority, independent of the area from which the matter arose.
Fund performance
Periodic performance
As at: 30 April 2026
1 Month | 3 Months | 6 Months | 1 Year | 3 Years | 5 Years | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Class B-Inc | 5.1% | 1.9% | 0.8% | 14.1% | 6.1% | 2.4% |
Index* | 5.0% | 4.9% | 7.6% | 28.0% | 16.0% | 9.5% |
Sector Average** | 6.0% | 5.3% | 7.3% | 28.2% | 14.7% | 8.1% |
Sector Ranking | 73/106 | 94/105 | 97/104 | 99/104 | 89/97 | 82/93 |
Figures for 3 and 5 years are shown as the annualised rate of return. This is the average yearly return over the specified period.
Annual discrete performance
As at: 31 March 2026
31/03/2021 – 31/03/2022 | 31/03/2022 – 31/03/2023 | 31/03/2023 – 31/03/2024 | 31/03/2024 – 31/03/2025 | 31/03/2025 – 31/03/2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Class B-Inc | -6.1% | -1.9% | 8.9% | -2.8% | 9.0% |
Index* | -2.7% | 2.8% | 21.7% | -2.5% | 23.9% |
Sector Average** | -4.4% | 0.7% | 18.2% | -2.2% | 22.5% |
Fund portfolio holdings
The list of top 10 holdings that this fund invests in.
As at: 30 April 2026
| # | Holding | % of total assets |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SoftBank Group | 5.4% |
| 2 | Sumitomo Mitsui Trust | 4.6% |
| 3 | SBI Holdings | 4.4% |
| 4 | Tokio Marine Holdings Inc | 3.9% |
| 5 | FANUC | 3.7% |
| 6 | Murata Manufacturing | 3.6% |
| 7 | Itochu Corp. | 3.4% |
| 8 | MS&AD Insurance | 3.4% |
| 9 | Sumitomo Metal Mining | 2.6% |
| 10 | DMG Mori | 2.2% |
Sector
As at: 30 April 2026
# | Sector | Fund % | Index % * | Difference % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Financials | 23.2 | 16.7 | 6.6 |
| 2 | Industrials | 22.6 | 27.6 | -5.0 |
| 3 | Consumer Staples | 10.0 | 4.8 | 5.2 |
| 4 | Communication Services | 9.9 | 6.3 | 3.6 |
| 5 | Information Technology | 9.9 | 14.4 | -4.5 |
| 6 | Consumer Discretionary | 8.0 | 14.5 | -6.5 |
| 7 | Health Care | 6.8 | 5.5 | 1.3 |
| 8 | Materials | 5.0 | 5.8 | -0.8 |
| 9 | Real Estate | 2.5 | 2.0 | 0.5 |
| 10 | Cash | 2.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
Total | 100.0 | 97.6 |
Quarterly transactions
Transactions for the three-month period ending 31 March 2026
New purchases
- Shin-Etsu Chemical
- Sony
Insights
Key articles, videos and podcasts relating to the fund:
Filters
Insights
Japan Core Growth: centring stock-picking
How a risk-controlled approach seeks to capture the long-term potential of Japanese companies.
SMC: Stock Story
Sarah Clark explores how SMC powers automation with precision pneumatics with engineering excellence.
Engagement and activism in Japan
Japan’s governance has had its ups and downs, but accelerating corporate reform is unlocking real investor value.
Healthy returns: Japan’s assault on old-age disease
Japanese medical firms are making advances that could help fight cancer and Alzheimer’s.
Rakuten: rewiring Japan’s digital economy
Conglomerates can be clunky, but not so Rakuten. Matthew Brett and Colossus on how it is connecting the dots. Capital at risk.
Japan: opportunities in automation
Japan's automation revolution and its global leadership in robotics.
Japan: opportunities in healthcare
Japan’s innovation medical breakthroughs are combatting ageing.
Japan: opportunities in quality brands
Behind the success of Japan’s leading quality brands and what opportunities they present.
Japan: opportunities in entertainment
Japan's media giants: Sony and Nintendo's timeless influence.
Japanese changemakers shaping the future
The firms taking advantage of four transformational opportunities.
Japan: the next opportunity
Explore Japan's market evolution, digitalization, and investment opportunities in unique growth themes.
China through a Japanese lens
Japanese tech dominance is under increasing pressure in China from domestic challengers.
Stock story: SoftBank
Matthew Brett discusses SoftBank and considers Japan’s exciting technological future.
Spotting the stars amid a surge
Rising Japanese markets are flattering old-style companies: better to look for long-term growth.
Japan’s new growth opportunities
Seeking the entrepreneurial firms that could sustain the country’s rally.
Japanese Equities
Investment manager, Donald Farquharson, discusses the Baillie Gifford approach to Japanese Equities.
From Y to Z: Japan’s online powerhouse
How Yahoo! Japan and Z Holdings' conquest of the country’s internet realm unfolded.
Japan trip reflections
Less foreign visitors, more cashless payments. Donald Farquharson reflects on post-Covid Japan
Sir Isaac Newton’s folly.
How the 18th-century mathematician lost a fortune to groupthink.
Success after succession
How can founder-defined companies – from Nidec to Nintendo – ensure success when it’s time for a new CEO?
The strengths of Japanese company culture
Companies such as Mercari that know that trying new things is the secret to growth.
The evolution of Japan Income Growth.
Fund Manager Karen See and Investment Specialist Thomas Patchett explore Japan’s evolving opportunity set.
Interview with our Japanese researchers
Donald Farquharson, head of the Japanese Equity Team at Baillie Gifford, speaks to Japan-based strategy researchers Akiko Hirai and Satoko Ishino.
Dominators vs disrupters - the future of industrial robotics
The big four incumbents in robotics are gearing up for a challenge. In a reshaping global industry, they are readying themselves for the march of the cobots.
Japan Core Growth: centring stock-picking
How a risk-controlled approach seeks to capture the long-term potential of Japanese companies.SMC: Stock Story
Sarah Clark explores how SMC powers automation with precision pneumatics with engineering excellence.Engagement and activism in Japan
Japan’s governance has had its ups and downs, but accelerating corporate reform is unlocking real investor value.Healthy returns: Japan’s assault on old-age disease
Japanese medical firms are making advances that could help fight cancer and Alzheimer’s.Rakuten: rewiring Japan’s digital economy
Conglomerates can be clunky, but not so Rakuten. Matthew Brett and Colossus on how it is connecting the dots. Capital at risk.Japan: opportunities in automation
Japan's automation revolution and its global leadership in robotics.Japan: opportunities in healthcare
Japan’s innovation medical breakthroughs are combatting ageing.Japan: opportunities in quality brands
Behind the success of Japan’s leading quality brands and what opportunities they present.Japan: opportunities in entertainment
Japan's media giants: Sony and Nintendo's timeless influence.Japanese changemakers shaping the future
The firms taking advantage of four transformational opportunities.Japan: the next opportunity
Explore Japan's market evolution, digitalization, and investment opportunities in unique growth themes.China through a Japanese lens
Japanese tech dominance is under increasing pressure in China from domestic challengers.Stock story: SoftBank
Matthew Brett discusses SoftBank and considers Japan’s exciting technological future.Spotting the stars amid a surge
Rising Japanese markets are flattering old-style companies: better to look for long-term growth.Japan’s new growth opportunities
Seeking the entrepreneurial firms that could sustain the country’s rally.Japanese Equities
Investment manager, Donald Farquharson, discusses the Baillie Gifford approach to Japanese Equities.From Y to Z: Japan’s online powerhouse
How Yahoo! Japan and Z Holdings' conquest of the country’s internet realm unfolded.Japan trip reflections
Less foreign visitors, more cashless payments. Donald Farquharson reflects on post-Covid JapanSir Isaac Newton’s folly.
How the 18th-century mathematician lost a fortune to groupthink.Success after succession
How can founder-defined companies – from Nidec to Nintendo – ensure success when it’s time for a new CEO?The strengths of Japanese company culture
Companies such as Mercari that know that trying new things is the secret to growth.The evolution of Japan Income Growth.
Fund Manager Karen See and Investment Specialist Thomas Patchett explore Japan’s evolving opportunity set.Interview with our Japanese researchers
Donald Farquharson, head of the Japanese Equity Team at Baillie Gifford, speaks to Japan-based strategy researchers Akiko Hirai and Satoko Ishino.Dominators vs disrupters - the future of industrial robotics
The big four incumbents in robotics are gearing up for a challenge. In a reshaping global industry, they are readying themselves for the march of the cobots.
How to buy
You can invest in our funds via a number of fund platforms. Information on the range of funds available through platforms can be obtained from platforms@bailliegifford.com
Further information on the funds can be found in the relevant Key Investor Information and Prospectus Documents, which are available in English and will be sent to you free of charge on request.
OEIC terms of business
To buy and sell our funds, you must complete and return a copy of the document below, if you don't already have an agreement with us. In order for us to accept your business for our range of OEICs, please complete and return the Terms of Business Acceptance Form.
Documents
You can access any literature about the Fund here.
To download any document you will need Adobe Reader. Please note that we can now provide you with Braille and audio transcriptions of our literature on request. It may take up to 10 days for the transcription to be completed dependent on the size of the document.