KKR has named Ken Murata, formerly of Goldman Sachs, as Managing Director to spearhead its private credit efforts in Japan, marking the firm’s inaugural dedicated hire for its Tokyo credit business, according to a report by Bloomberg.
Murata, who will join in September and report to Diane Raposio, Head of Asia Credit and Markets at KKR, reflects the firm’s strategic push to deepen its presence in the Japanese private credit market – a key pillar in the Asia-Pacific credit boom.
KKR has already committed $6bn of credit capital across the region, with Japan representing a vital growth market alongside its established private equity and real estate investments.
KKR’s expansion in Japan aligns with broader industry trends as major global investors ramp up private credit platforms in the country. Apollo Global Management has identified Japan as a core market in Asia, while Ares Management launched a Tokyo office last year. Blue Owl Capital followed suit with a Japanese base in 2023.
Japan’s market is increasingly attractive for private credit managers, both as a capital source and a lending opportunity, particularly as an alternative to traditional bank financing.
Murata joins KKR from Goldman Sachs, where he served as Managing Director and Head of the Strategic Solutions and Financing Group within investment banking. He also holds prior experience at UBS Group AG. Goldman Sachs declined to comment.
