Private equity firm KKR enters the Japanese private credit market with its initial hire.
KKR, a leading global investment firm, is strengthening its presence in Japan's private credit market with the strategic hire of Ken Murata, a seasoned professional with over 11 years of experience at Goldman Sachs, starting in September 2025.
Murata, who previously worked at UBS Group, will focus on both private and liquid credit segments in Japan. Reporting to Diane Raposio, KKR’s head of Asia credit and markets, Murata's role is expected to drive KKR's strategy to offer a broader range of capital solutions to Japanese corporates.
This move marks KKR's first dedicated hire in Japan for private credit, reflecting the firm's increasing commitment after allocating $6 billion of credit capital across the Asia-Pacific region, positioning Japan as a key growth market. KKR's Asia credit strategy, initiated in 2019, has already completed 60 deals worth $21 billion, with a focus on direct lending, capital solutions, and collateral-backed lending.
The expansion in Japan's private credit market is part of KKR's ongoing efforts to seize growth opportunities in the region. Other alternative asset managers are also actively expanding in Japan’s private credit market. Blue Owl Capital, for instance, established a Tokyo office in 2023, signalling its commitment to the region. Similarly, Ares Management appointed a former Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp executive last year to head its Japan operations, ahead of opening an office, aiming to capture the growing demand for credit solutions in the Japanese market.
These moves show a growing trend among global alternative asset managers to deepen their presence in Japan’s developing private and liquid credit markets, driven by increasing demand from Japanese corporates for diverse capital and financing solutions.
Sources:
[1] Bloomberg. (2025). KKR Hires Ken Murata from Goldman Sachs to Lead Credit Business in Tokyo. [online] Available at: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-09-01/kkr-hires-ken-murata-from-goldman-sachs-to-lead-credit-business-in-tokyo
[2] Reuters. (2023). Blue Owl Capital Opens Tokyo Office, Ares Management Plans to Expand in Japan. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/blue-owl-capital-opens-tokyo-office-ares-management-plans-expand-japan-2023-04-01/
Murata's focus on both private and liquid credit segments in Japan indicates KKR's intent to invest in these sectors, thereby expanding their business in Japan's private credit market. The strategic hire of Murata is part of KKR's broader strategy to offer a wider array of finance solutions to Japanese corporates, aligning with their growing commitment to the Japan market.
