The iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ) ETF covers to the following investment themes:

  • Asset Class: Equity
  • Size: Large Cap
  • Style: Blend
  • Region: Developed Asia Pacific
  • Country: Japan

As of May 2026, in the previous 30 Years, the iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ) ETF obtained a 3.28% compound annual return, with a 17.57% standard deviation. It suffered a maximum drawdown of -57.84% that required 205 months to be recovered.

Disclaimer: The simulations on this website are provided in good faith but should NOT be taken as investment advice. We are not liable for any errors or actions based on this information. The authors of the website are not affiliated with the ETFs/Assets issuers. Content is for informational, educational, illustrative and entertainment purposes only.
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Table of contents

The iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ) ETF is part of the following Lazy Portfolios:

Portfolio Name Author EWJ Weight▾ Currency
Dedalo Eleven Dedalo Invest 4.00% USD

Investment Returns as of May 31, 2026

ISHARES MSCI JAPAN ETF (EWJ) ETF
Capital Growth
Inflation Adj:
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Show Live Returns: June 2026
Chg (%) Return (%) Return (%) as of May 31, 2026
1 Day Time ET(*) Jun 2026 YTD
(5M) 		1M 6M 1Y 5Y 10Y 30Y MAX
(~41Y)
Investment Return 0.44 0.81 15.14 4.33 16.18 31.16 8.88 9.21 3.28 4.95
US Inflation Adjusted Return 12.40 3.84 13.06 25.90 4.22 5.63 0.70 2.07
Returns over 1 year are annualized
(*) Eastern Time (ET - America/New York)
The live monthly return is calculated by assuming, for each asset, the weight defined by the base asset allocation.
US Inflation is updated to May 2026. Inflation (annualized) is 1Y: 4.18% , 5Y: 4.47% , 10Y: 3.38% , 30Y: 2.56%

Investment Metrics as of May 31, 2026

ISHARES MSCI JAPAN ETF (EWJ) ETF
Advanced Metrics
1 January 1985 - 31 May 2026 (~41 years)
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Metrics as of May 31, 2026
YTD
(5M) 		1M 3M 6M 1Y 3Y 5Y 10Y 20Y 30Y MAX
(~41Y)
Investment Return (%)
15.14 4.33 0.64 16.18 31.16 19.62 8.88 9.21 4.31 3.28 4.95
Growth of 1$ 1.15 1.04 1.01 1.16 1.31 1.71 1.53 2.41 2.33 2.63 7.40
Infl. Adjusted Return (%)
12.40 3.84 -1.33 13.06 25.90 15.84 4.22 5.63 1.71 0.70 2.07
US Inflation (%) 2.44 0.47 1.99 2.75 4.18 3.27 4.47 3.38 2.57 2.56 2.82
Returns / Inflation rates over 1 year are annualized.
DRAWDOWN
Inflation Adjusted:
Inflation Adjusted:
 Current 1Y 3Y 5Y 10Y 20Y 30Y MAX
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) 0.00 -8.59 -8.59 -28.85 -28.85 -48.88 -57.84 -58.36
Start to Recovery (# months)
3 3 29 29 120 205 332
Start (yyyy mm) 2026 03 2026 03 2021 10 2021 10 2007 03 2000 04 1989 10
Start to Bottom (# months) 1 1 12 12 24 37 163
Bottom (yyyy mm) 2026 03 2026 03 2022 09 2022 09 2009 02 2003 04 2003 04
Bottom to End (# months) 2 2 17 17 96 168 169
End (yyyy mm) 2026 05 2026 05 2024 02 2024 02 2017 02 2017 04 2017 05
Longest Drawdown Depth (%)
same		 -5.42
same		 -18.62
same
same
same
Start to Recovery (# months)
8 34
Start (yyyy mm) 2026 03 2024 09 2021 10 2018 02 2007 03 2000 04 1989 10
Start to Bottom (# months) 1 2 12 26 24 37 163
Bottom (yyyy mm) 2026 03 2024 10 2022 09 2020 03 2009 02 2003 04 2003 04
Bottom to End (# months) 2 6 17 8 96 168 169
End (yyyy mm) 2026 05 2025 04 2024 02 2020 11 2017 02 2017 04 2017 05
Longest negative period (# months)
2 12 31 63 122 236 374
Start (yyyy mm) 2026 02 2024 04 2021 06 2017 07 2006 06 1996 07 1989 02
End (yyyy mm) 2026 03 2025 03 2023 12 2022 09 2016 07 2016 02 2020 03
Annualized Return (%) -8.63 -1.69 -0.52 -0.16 -0.05 -0.01 -0.02
Adjusting for units held makes the drawdown reflect real performance, just like in the no-cash-flow case.
Deepest Drawdown Depth (%) -22.44 -9.37 -9.37 -34.24 -34.35 -50.92 -60.70 -72.41
Start to Recovery (# months)
448* 3* 3* 47 54 131 313 448*
Start (yyyy mm) 2026 03 2026 03 2021 10 2021 03 2007 03 2000 01 1989 02
Start to Bottom (# months) 1 1 12 19 24 40 171
Bottom (yyyy mm) 2026 03 2026 03 2022 09 2022 09 2009 02 2003 04 2003 04
Bottom to End (# months) 2 2 35 35 107 273 277
End (yyyy mm) - - 2025 08 2025 08 2018 01 2026 01 -
Longest Drawdown Depth (%)
same		 -6.37
same
same
same
same
same
Start to Recovery (# months)
9
Start (yyyy mm) 2026 03 2024 09 2021 10 2021 03 2007 03 2000 01 1989 02
Start to Bottom (# months) 1 4 12 19 24 40 171
Bottom (yyyy mm) 2026 03 2024 12 2022 09 2022 09 2009 02 2003 04 2003 04
Bottom to End (# months) 2 5 35 35 107 273 277
End (yyyy mm) - 2025 05 2025 08 2025 08 2018 01 2026 01 -
Longest negative period (# months)
3* 13 50 87 217 350 469
Start (yyyy mm) 2026 03 2024 03 2021 06 2018 02 2007 03 1996 06 1986 07
End (yyyy mm) 2026 05 2025 03 2025 07 2025 04 2025 03 2025 07 2025 07
Annualized Return (%) -5.20 -1.16 -0.65 -0.02 -0.07 -0.09 -0.03
Drawdowns / Negative periods marked with * are in progress
Adjusting for units held makes the drawdown reflect real performance, just like in the no-cash-flow case.
RISK INDICATORS
1Y 3Y 5Y 10Y 20Y 30Y MAX
Standard Deviation (%) 14.96 12.55 14.81 13.73 15.23 17.57 19.65
Sharpe Ratio 1.82 1.19 0.37 0.51 0.18 0.06 0.09
Sortino Ratio 2.24 1.53 0.50 0.70 0.25 0.08 0.13
Ulcer Index 2.63 3.00 10.41 8.97 17.16 23.25 23.65
Ratio: Return / Standard Deviation 2.08 1.56 0.60 0.67 0.28 0.19 0.25
Ratio: Return / Deepest Drawdown 3.63 2.29 0.31 0.32 0.09 0.06 0.08
Positive Months (%)
75.00 69.44 60.00 60.83 57.91 55.00 54.72
Positive Months 9 25 36 73 139 198 272
Negative Months 3 11 24 47 101 162 225
LONG TERM RETURNS
Inflation Adjusted:
Inflation Adjusted:
 1Y 3Y 5Y 10Y 20Y 30Y MAX
Best 10 Years Return (%) - Annualized 9.21 10.01 10.01 11.15
Worst 10 Years Return (%) - Annualized -0.36 -3.73 -6.04
Best 10 Years Return (%) - Annualized 5.63 6.52 6.52 7.30
Worst 10 Years Return (%) - Annualized -2.08 -6.14 -8.50
TIMEFRAMES
Inflation Adjusted:
Inflation Adjusted:
 1M 3M 6M 1Y 3Y 5Y 10Y 20Y 30Y MAX
··· As of May 2026 - Over the previous 30Y
Best Rolling Return (%) - Annualized 75.03 32.55 16.28 10.01 5.59 3.28
Worst Rolling Return (%) - Annualized -40.40 -24.82 -9.10 -3.73 0.03
Positive Periods (%) 61.3 75.3 67.1 87.1 100.0 100.0
Best Rolling Return (%) - Annualized 70.54 28.58 12.83 6.52 3.00 0.70
Worst Rolling Return (%) - Annualized -40.41 -26.62 -11.18 -6.14 -2.01
Positive Periods (%) 56.7 62.4 56.1 64.7 71.9 100.0
95% VaR - Value at Risk (%) - Cumulative
7.94 13.25 18.04 29.88 37.40 31.51 19.09 0.00
95% CVaR - Conditional Value at Risk (%) 10.05 16.90 23.20 34.13 47.67 33.38 26.29 0.00
99% VaR - Value at Risk (%) - Cumulative
11.40 19.24 26.51 37.23 53.76 35.06 30.15 0.00
99% CVaR - Conditional Value at Risk (%) 13.60 23.05 31.90 38.96 55.96 36.58 31.64 0.00
Short term VaRs: analytical | 1+ year VaRs: historical data
Safe Withdrawal Rate (%) 72.63 19.38 11.31 6.00 3.07 2.45
Perpetual Withdrawal Rate (%) --- --- --- --- --- 0.46
% based on initial capital, inflation-adj. monthly withdrawals afterwards | Credits: BestRetirementPortfolio.com
··· All available data (Jan 1985 - May 2026)
Best Rolling Return (%) - Annualized 76.80 42.38 26.96 11.15 5.59 3.96
Worst Rolling Return (%) - Annualized -40.40 -24.82 -11.19 -6.04 -3.39 0.11
Positive Periods (%) 61.7 67.9 59.8 69.3 77.5 100.0
Best Rolling Return (%) - Annualized 73.89 38.13 22.29 7.30 3.00 1.24
Worst Rolling Return (%) - Annualized -40.41 -26.62 -13.31 -8.50 -6.06 -2.33
Positive Periods (%) 57.4 54.1 47.9 47.0 40.6 22.4
95% VaR - Value at Risk (%) - Cumulative
8.77 14.47 19.47 28.43 36.99 30.60 34.34 29.32 0.00
95% CVaR - Conditional Value at Risk (%) 11.12 18.55 25.24 33.04 45.38 34.01 39.32 37.03 0.00
99% VaR - Value at Risk (%) - Cumulative
12.63 21.16 28.94 36.10 51.12 35.18 43.50 42.98 0.00
99% CVaR - Conditional Value at Risk (%) 15.09 25.42 34.96 37.88 54.49 41.54 45.24 47.46 0.00
Short term VaRs: analytical | 1+ year VaRs: historical data
Safe Withdrawal Rate (%) 72.63 19.38 11.31 6.00 2.58 1.60
Perpetual Withdrawal Rate (%) --- --- --- --- --- ---
% based on initial capital, inflation-adj. monthly withdrawals afterwards | Credits: BestRetirementPortfolio.com
  • Annualized Portfolio Return: the annualized geometric mean return of the portfolio. When cashflows are involved, it is calculated using the Money-Weighted Rate of Return (MWRR), based on the Modified Dietz formula.
  • Deepest/Longest Drawdown: a drawdown refers to the decline in value from a relative peak value to a relative trough. The deepest (or maximum) drawdown is the maximum observed loss from a peak to a trough of a portfolio before a new peak is attained. The longest drawdown is the period observed from a peak to the subsequent peak with the greatest duration. When cashflows are involved, portfolio values are normalized by the invested capital (i.e. owned quotes) at each time step: this isolates the effect of market performance from capital contributions, avoiding misleading drawdowns caused by large inflows that artificially lift portfolio value and, as a result, the drawdowns match the ones without cash flows.
  • Longest negative period: it's the maximum period for which an overall negative return has been observed.
  • Standard Deviation: it's a measure of the dispersion of returns around the mean.
  • Sharpe Ratio: it's a measure of risk-adjusted performance of the portfolio. It's calculated by dividing the excess return of the portfolio over the risk-free rate by the portfolio standard deviation. The risk-free rate here considered is the 1-3 Mth T-Bill return.
  • Sortino Ratio: another measure of risk-adjusted performance of the portfolio. It's a modification of the Sharpe Ratio (same formula but the denominator is the portfolio downside standard deviation).
  • Ulcer Index: it's a measure of downside risk that quantifies the depth and duration of drawdowns in an investment portfolio.
  • Best/Worst 10Y returns: the best and the worst 10-year return over a time frame.
  • Rolling Returns: N-year returns over a time frame, calculated over all the available data source (best, worst, % of positive returns). Each rolling period, longer than the longest negative period, yielded a non-negative minimum return.
  • Value at Risk (VaR): it's an evaluation of a cumulative worst-case loss (in absolute value), associated with a probability (95%-99%) and a time horizon. For short term, it's calculated based on the expected return and standard deviation, assuming a normal distribution of monthly returns. For long term is retrieved by the historical rolling return data.
  • Conditional Value at Risk (CVaR): it represents the average expected loss if that worst-case threshold (95%-99%) is ever crossed.
  • Safe Withdrawal Rate (SWR): it's the percentage of the initial portfolio balance that can be withdrawn at the beginning of each month with inflation adjustment, without the portfolio running out of money in any case (money amount withdrawal).
    For instance: Your initial invested capital is 100.000$; withdrawal rate (annualized) is 4%. This means that, in the first month, you will withdraw 100.000 * 4% * 1/12 = 333.33$. The second month, you’ll withdraw 333.33$ plus the inflation monthly rate. You’ll continue adjusting your withdraw monthly for inflation.
  • Perpetual Withdrawal Rate (PWR): it's the percentage of the initial portfolio balance that can be withdrawn at the beginning of each month with inflation adjustment, preserving the original invested capital, adjusted for inflation too.
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Correlations as of May 31, 2026

Correlation measures to what degree the returns of two assets move in relation to each other. It is a statistical measure that describes the extent to which the returns of one asset are related to the returns of another asset.

The following table shows the monthly correlations of iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ) ETF vs the main Asset Classes, over different timeframes. Columns are sortable (click on table header to sort).

ISHARES MSCI JAPAN ETF (EWJ) ETF
Monthly correlations as of 31 May 2026
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Correlation vs EWJ
Asset Class 1 Year 5 Years 10 Years 30 Years
VTI
 US Total Stock Market 0.55 0.73 0.75 0.65
SPY
 US Large Cap Blend 0.52 0.72 0.75 0.64
IJH
 US Mid Cap Blend 0.77 0.73 0.73 0.62
IJR
 US Small Cap Blend 0.66 0.68 0.68 0.57
VNQ
 US REITs 0.72 0.67 0.59 0.42
QQQ
 US Technology 0.42 0.66 0.69 0.55
PFF
 US Preferred Stocks 0.53 0.70 0.63 0.38
EFA
 EAFE Stocks 0.95 0.89 0.88 0.79
VT
 World All Countries 0.75 0.83 0.83 0.69
EEM
 Emerging Markets 0.83 0.78 0.75 0.65
BND
 US Total Bond Market 0.75 0.75 0.49 0.18
TLT
 US Long Term Treasuries 0.63 0.63 0.22 -0.02
BIL
 US Cash 0.02 0.25 0.07 -0.04
TIP
 US TIPS 0.84 0.69 0.49 0.21
LQD
 US Invest. Grade Bonds 0.64 0.77 0.59 0.29
HYG
 US High Yield Bonds 0.50 0.77 0.69 0.49
CWB
 US Convertible Bonds 0.57 0.70 0.71 0.58
BNDX
 International Bonds 0.88 0.74 0.48 0.22
EMB
 Emerg. Market Bonds 0.78 0.84 0.66 0.49
GLD
 Gold 0.67 0.44 0.25 0.17
DBC
 Commodities -0.47 -0.02 0.25 0.32

Drawdowns

A drawdown refers to the decline in value from a relative peak value to a relative trough. A maximum drawdown is the maximum observed loss from a peak to a trough of a portfolio before a new peak is attained.

ISHARES MSCI JAPAN ETF (EWJ) ETF
Drawdown periods
Inflation Adj:
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Rolling Return Analysis

A rolling return is a measure of investment performance that calculates the return of an investment over a set period of time, with the starting date rolling forward. This approach can provide a more accurate representation of the investment's historical performance and helps investors to evaluate the investment's consistency over time.

ISHARES MSCI JAPAN ETF (EWJ) ETF
Annualized Rolling Returns — Over Time & Distribution

Holding Periods and Returns

Holding periods are based on rolling periods: each rolling window represents the return an investor would have achieved by holding the investment for a fixed period (e.g., 10, 20, or 30 years) starting from different dates.

ISHARES MSCI JAPAN ETF (EWJ) ETF
Annualized Rolling Returns
Inflation Adj:
Percentiles: – Changes pending. Click 'Update' to refresh

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Time to Target

What it shows: Months to reach your target capital from each historical entry point, accounting for your initial investment and periodic contributions.

ISHARES MSCI JAPAN ETF (EWJ) ETF
Time to reach your Target Capital

Monthly Returns and Seasonality

This section provides a visual/tabular representation of the performance variability in the iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ) ETF over time. It illustrates the distribution of monthly returns, showcasing the range and frequency of positive and negative returns.

ISHARES MSCI JAPAN ETF (EWJ) ETF
Monthly Returns Distribution

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Monthly Seasonality Analysis
41 full years are available for analysis

Returns, up to December 1996, have been derived using the historical series of equivalent ETFs / Assets.

You can find additional information on extended Data Sources here.

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Your practical guide to Building Wealth.
Master ETF Investing & maximize profits with Lazy Portfolios & Passive Strategies.
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