< The 2016 All-Japan Research Team

Total appearances: 12

Team debut: 1999

Notching his second consecutive showing at No. 3 is Yoshihiro Hashimoto, who “differentiates himself by getting in the trenches,” one portfolio manager remarks. “He produces true on-the-ground research and understands government-approval issues better than many of his peers because he has sat on a number of local government committees.” The 50-year-old Mizuho Securities Group analyst actively tracks 15 domestic housing and real estate companies, a reduction of two over the past year, and is particularly enthusiastic about Daito Trust Construction Co. Citing its improved earnings and growing profit margins, he says the company is now “in a better position” to increase its operating budget and raise dividend yield. Although shares of the Tokyo-based commercial and residential builder already advanced 17.4 percent during the 12 months through mid-March, to ¥16,215, outperforming the Japanese sector by 31.5 percentage points, Hashimoto projects additional upside.