<p>TOKYO, Mar 02 (IPS) - After two decades of economic stagnation and serial natural disasters, a growing number of young Japanese believe social entrepreneurship is the best way to rebuild their society.</p><p>Masami Komatsu (37) is one of them. He founded his investment company Music Securities in 2001, a few years after the Japanese banking crisis of 1998. 'There was no more investment in vulnerable sectors as music, traditional crafts or sake brewing," he tells IPS. "We made it possible for people to start investing in what they personally think is important and should be kept alive."</p><p>However, Music Securities does not work by way of donors and donations. It is an investment fund with returns that currently ranks among the best performing in Japan, managing over 33 billion yen (27 million euro) worth of investments held by over 50,000 shareholders including some of the nation's most wealthy companies. In 2009 Komatsu set up the first retail microfinance fund in Japan, allowing individuals to invest in microfinance projects in Cambodia.</p><p>At this moment Music Securities is the largest private financier in the reconstruction of companies that suffered losses from the tsunami. "A month after the catastrophe had happened we visited the area and suggested our plan to the local business leaders," Komatsu tells IPS. "We had the feeling we had to do something. Not volunteer, but use our existing business to resolve the problems of the stricken areas."</p><p><a href="http://www.iede.co.uk/news/2013_1160/japanese-learn-mind-their-business-others">Keep reading...</a></p>