Japan Bankruptcies Likely to Surpass 10,000 This Year

The number of corporate bankruptcies in Japan totaled 9,372 in the January–November period, making it likely that the figure for 2025 will surpass 10,000 for the second consecutive year, a credit research firm said Monday, Kyodo News reported.

Bankruptcies attributed to inflationary pressures totaled 700 in the January–November period, up 7.4 percent.

Bankruptcies involving liabilities of 10 million yen ($64,500) or more in November fell 7.5 percent from a year earlier to 778, according to Tokyo Shoko Research. Small businesses were hit particularly hard by rising prices and labor shortages, the data showed.

Total liabilities in November dropped 48.6 percent to 82.4 billion yen, as bankruptcies involving liabilities of 500 million yen or more were cut in half.

By industry, the services sector recorded the highest number of bankruptcies in November at 250, though this marked a 17.8 percent decrease from the same period last year.

Bankruptcies attributed to inflationary pressures totaled 700 in the January–November period, up 7.4 percent, with the yen’s weakness contributing to higher food and energy costs.