HSBC has launched its Premier service in Japan with the opening of two HSBC Premier Centres in the Akasaka and Hiroo areas of Tokyo. It plans to open five further HSBC Premier Centres in Japan by the end of 2008. The centres will offer personal wealth management services to mass affluent customers with deposits of over JPY10 million ($94,000). The Financial Services Authority granted approval for the Hiroo branch in October last year, and the Akasaka branch in December. UK-based HSBC said it plans, subject to regulator approval, to open four more branches in Greater Tokyo and one in Kansai in 2008. It then plans to open Premier Centres in other major cities nationwide. Francois Moreau, HSBC managing director and head of Personal Financial Services in Japan, said: “We have taken the first important steps to building our personal financial services business in Japan. With these branch openings we are able to roll-out HSBC Premier, which is designed to support the wealth management needs of our customers in Japan." The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation established its first branch in Japan in Yokohama in 1866, making it the oldest bank operating in Japan today. With branches in Tokyo and Osaka, the bank primarily provides corporate financial services to Japanese and multinational corporations. HSBC Premier was launched internationally in May last year as a global personal wealth management service for mass affluent individuals. It currently serves over 2 million customers through 250 international Premier Centres in 35 countries and territories.