TOKYO (Jan 13): Japan's bankruptcy cases last year climbed to levels unseen in 12 years as rising raw material costs and intensifying labour shortages took a toll on businesses, a private think tank survey showed on Tuesday. The total number of companies that went under in 2025 stood at 10,300, marking the highest level since 2013. The number of bankruptcies caused by labour shortages rose to a record 397 last year, the survey said. A separate government survey published on Tuesday showed sentiment among firms close to consumers, such as retailers, worsened for the second straight month in December. The index measuring sentiment among such firms slipped to 48.6 in December, down 0.1 point from November, according to the survey released by the Cabinet Office.

Source: The Edge Markets January 13, 2026 08:53 UTC