The Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) has announced plans to lower the minimum investment amount for stocks to approximately 100,000 yen (about $700) to make investing more accessible, particularly for younger investors. This initiative aims to encourage retail participation in the Japanese stock market by reducing the investment unit size across all listed companies. Currently, some stocks, such as Fast Retailing, require a minimum investment of around 4.6 million yen, which is not feasible under the new NISA (Nippon Individual Savings Account) framework. In contrast, U.S. stocks like Apple can be purchased for roughly 28,000 yen, highlighting the disparity in investment accessibility. The TSE's proposal is part of broader reforms to the growth market and is expected to facilitate smaller investments, aligning with global standards and enhancing market liquidity. The exchange has formally requested all listed companies to comply with this new minimum investment threshold to attract more retail investors.