Odey Asset Management's star Japan manager has resigned, leaving the London hedge fund boutique's troubled Japan funds with an analyst as investors predict a difficult year for the asset class.

Alex Griffiths, manager of the long-only £17m (€22.2m) Odey Japan fund and the $115m (€75m) hedge fund Odey Japan & General, resigned last week for personal reasons, according to Odey chief executive David Stewart.