Key facts
- Over 600 hacking attacks reported in Japan from January to September 2026.
- AI is suspected of enabling hackers to find vulnerabilities and overcome language barriers.
- 7.1% of companies suffered attacks via virus-infected email attachments in the year ending March.
- 6.5% of firms experienced unauthorized logins to internet services.
- 5.2% of companies were hit by ransomware attacks.
- Japanese companies face a shortage of cybersecurity workers.
Japanese companies are experiencing a significant increase in cyberattacks, with over 600 incidents reported in the first nine months of 2026, exceeding the total for the entire previous year. Analysts and security firms attribute this surge to artificial intelligence, which is empowering hackers to find vulnerabilities more effectively and overcome traditional defenses like language barriers. The Japan Association of Corporate Executives has urged member companies to bolster their systems, highlighting a critical shortage of cybersecurity workers. Specific attack vectors include ransomware, virus-infected email attachments, and unauthorized logins. Recent targets have included a railway operator and watchmaker Citizen.