Just an idea. GL Trade sells Japanese data to IB. You might try contacting them. They also have their own platform with which you might be able to integrate.
Please see the attached documents for detailed information on becoming a trading participant. The TSE regulations for becoming a trading participant are as follows. According to Article 4.2 of the Trading Participant Regulations of Tokyo Stock Exchange, Inc., only the following entities may become trading participants: 1. Securities companies 2. Foreign securities companies (as stipulated in Section 107.3.1.1 of the Securities and Exchange Law) 3. Registered financial institutions (as stipulated in Section 107.3.1.2 of the Securities and Exchange Law) Here is a brief outline of the process of becoming a trading participant at the Tokyo Stock Exchange: In addition to TSE trading rights, it is also necessary to be a JSCC (Japan Securities Clearing Corporation, Central Counter Party) clearing participant or have a clearing contract with a JSCC clearing participant. The examination process is as follows: * In the first meeting, we will explain about documents required for the examination, * After we receive those documents, we will have a meeting or telephone conversation for further information. This process will take three months. In the exam, we will require financial stability. For example, the following criteria must be met: * Capital of at least 300 million yen, * Net assets of at least 1 billion yen that exceed capital, * Net capital requirement ratio exceeding 200%. Attached, please find more detailed information on trading participant fees.
Yeah, as I said, prop firms have a snowball's chance in hell of getting a direct connection. Won't getting Japanese data for your software from a vendor such as eSignal or GL Trade work for you?
there are ways for prop firms to get direct connection. i found one way is having brokers rent out cabinet space in the proximity hosting service for you.. now if we can only find brokers to work with, with out having to cold call them..
I don't know if this will be of help to you or not but the following news from TSE came out yesterday to where they will now allow qualified foreign brokers to trade directly on TSE even though they don't have offices in Japan. Would you be able to tie up with such a broker? http://www.tse.or.jp/english/news/200902/090203_a.html