Japan’s Business Failures during January to December 2025
(Released by TEIKOKU DATABANK, LTD.)
Number of bankruptcies reaches 10,261, exceeding 10,000 for the first time in 12 years
Increase in small-scale bankruptcies due to high prices and labor shortages
| Bankruptcies |
10,261 |
| Year-over-Year basis |
+3.6％ |
| Previous Year |
9,901 |
| Liabilities |
1,566,888 million yen |
| Year-over-Year basis |
▲29.4％ |
| Previous Year |
2,219,780 million yen |
Highlight and Outstanding Feature
- ■There were 10,261 bankruptcies in 2025, a 3.6% increase from 9,901 in the previous year. This marked the fourth consecutive annual increase and the first time bankruptcy filings exceeded 10,000 since in 12 years 2013 (10,332). In 2025, one listed company—Alt Inc. (TSE Growth)—went bankrupt.
- ■Total liabilities were 1,566,888 million yen (2,219,780 million yen in the previous year, down 29.4% year-on-year), falling below the previous year for the second consecutive year. The amount of liabilities declined even excluding the impact of the bankruptcy of MSJ Asset Management Co., Ltd. (former: Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation, liabilities of 641,300 million yen), which occurred in 2024, the number of bankruptcies of small- and medium-sized enterprises was significant.
- ■By industry, the number of bankruptcies increased year-on-year in six of seven industries. The largest number of bankruptcies was in the service industry (to 2,648 bankruptcies from 2,547 in the previous year, up 4.0%), followed by the retail industry (to 2,193 bankruptcies from 2,087 in the previous year, up 5.1%) and the construction industry (to 2,021 bankruptcies from 1,890, up 6.9%).
- ■By region, eight of nine regions experienced year-on-year increases. The region that experienced a decline in bankruptcies was Chugoku (down 3.5% to 447 from 463 in the previous year). The largest rate of increase was in Shikoku (to 213 bankruptcies from 195 in the same month of the previous year, up 9.2%), surpassing 200 for the first time in 13 years since 2012 (209).
- ■There were 636 cases of “bankruptcies after zero-zero (COVID-19-related) loans,” the first decline since data collection began.
- ■There were 427 bankruptcies due to “labor shortages,” surpassing 400 for the first time and marking a significant new all-time high.
- ■There were 503 cases of bankruptcies in which it was “difficult to find successors,” down from the previous year for the second consecutive year.
- ■8. There were 949 bankruptcies due to “high prices,” setting a new all-time high for the second consecutive year.
Bankruptcy Information TOP