Corporate governance woes thorn in Japan's side

TOKYO: Poison pills, a lack of independent directors, and a web of capital ties between business partners that ensures management performance goes unchecked - that's corporate governance in Japan.

Speakers at the Japan Investment Summit this week warned that lax governance standards risk deterring foreign investors from the world's second-largest equities market while also threatening the country's long-term financial health.

Some help may be on the way.