Key facts
- Trend Micro CEO Eva Chen warned of a new wave of cyberattacks in Japan.
- Hackers are reportedly using AI to find vulnerabilities and automate attacks.
- Millions of customer records have been leaked in recent incidents.
- The frequency of data leaks has increased significantly in 2026.
Japan is facing an escalating threat of cyberattacks, with criminals increasingly using stolen personal data and artificial intelligence to launch more sophisticated and automated intrusions, according to cybersecurity experts. Trend Micro CEO Eva Chen warned that Japan has become an attractive target due to its wealth and organized customer data.
Recent incidents include Daiwa Securities reporting a potential leak of 110,000 clients' data and the operator of the 'Yakiniku King' restaurant chain confirming over 10 million customer records were compromised. Other reported breaches involve railway operator Keio, Tokyo Metro, and car-sharing service Times Car, affecting millions of accounts.
Experts at IT security firm Macnica believe AI is enabling hackers to identify system vulnerabilities at an unprecedented speed and scale, expanding the pool of potential attackers beyond those with advanced technical skills. This trend is expected to continue, prompting calls for businesses to urgently check and fix system vulnerabilities and delete unnecessary personal information.