COVER STORY: Can Japan's banks fulfil their desire to acquire?

With few scars to bear from the US sub-prime crisis, Japan's biggest financial firms are flexing their well-capitalised muscles and eyeing international acquisitions once again. As Nomura's new CEO tells ASIAMONEY, now is an ideal opportunity for them to achieve their global goals. But their willingness to be bold is still in doubt. Peter McGill and Chris Wright report.