iShares Core MSCI Japan IMI vs Vanguard FTSE Japan
iShares Core MSCI Japan IMI tracks MSCI Japan IMI and Vanguard FTSE Japan tracks FTSE Japan. They are realistic alternatives for the same slot in a portfolio, but because the indices are different nobody can tell you in advance which will return more. What can be compared objectively is the cost, the replication method, the domicile and how each one is structured — and that is what this page does.
What each one tracks
This is the underlying difference: they do not follow the same index, so their returns will diverge.
iShares Core MSCI Japan IMI
MSCI Japan IMI
Vanguard FTSE Japan
FTSE Japan
Comparison
| iShares Core MSCI Japan IMI | Vanguard FTSE Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Index | MSCI Japan IMI | FTSE Japan |
| TER | 0.15% | 0.15% |
| Hist. return* | ~6% | ~6% |
| Replication | Physical | Physical |
| Distribution | Accumulating | Distributing |
| Domicile | Irlanda | Irlanda |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Risk | 4/7 | 4/7 |
| ISIN | IE00B4L5YX21 | IE00B95PGT31 |
What the fee gap actually costs
Applying the SAME 7% gross return to both and contributing €300/month, the only thing moving the result is the TER. This is not a return forecast: it is how much the fee weighs.
| Horizon | iShares Core MSCI Japan IMI | Vanguard FTSE Japan | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 years | €51,793 | €51,793 | €0 |
| 20 years | €154,339 | €154,339 | €0 |
| 30 years | €357,370 | €357,370 | €0 |
Both fees are effectively identical, so cost should not decide this choice.
Nobody can know which will perform better: they track different indices and past performance is not a prediction. What is objective today is the cost, the replication, the domicile and the distribution policy.
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Create free accountFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between iShares Core MSCI Japan IMI and Vanguard FTSE Japan?+
They track different indices: iShares Core MSCI Japan IMI follows MSCI Japan IMI and Vanguard FTSE Japan follows FTSE Japan. They also differ in cost (0.15% vs 0.15% TER), replication (physical vs physical) and domicile (Irlanda vs Irlanda).
Which one will perform better?+
Nobody can know that: they track different indices, so their returns will diverge, and past index performance is not a prediction. What you can control today is the cost, the tax structure and whether the index actually covers what you want exposure to.
Which one is cheaper?+
Their fees are effectively identical (0.15% vs 0.15%), so cost should not decide this one. Look at index coverage, distribution policy and availability at your broker instead.
Accumulating or distributing?+
iShares Core MSCI Japan IMI is accumulating (dividends are reinvested inside the fund) and Vanguard FTSE Japan is distributing (dividends are paid out to you). For long-term compounding in Spain, accumulating usually defers taxation; distributing gives you income you are taxed on each year.
Can I hold both?+
Yes. Unlike two funds tracking the identical index, these give you genuinely different exposure, so holding both is not automatically redundant — just be aware you may end up overlapping on the largest companies and doubling your rebalancing work.