Japan’s Business Failures in January 2026
(Released by TEIKOKU DATABANK, LTD.)
Number of bankruptcies in January rises for 4th consecutive year
Labor shortage bankruptcies reach annual high
| Bankruptcies |
861 |
| Year-to-Year basis |
+3.7% |
| Last Year same month |
830 |
| Liabilities |
118,871 million yen |
| Year-to-Year basis |
▲1.4% |
| Last Year same month |
120,519 million yen |
Highlight and Outstanding Feature
- ■There were 861 bankruptcies (830 bankruptcies in the same month of the previous year, up 3.7% year-on-year), marking the second consecutive month of year-on-year increase and the fourth consecutive year in which January’s total exceeded the previous year’s level. The cumulative total for fiscal 2026 (April 2025–March 2026) stood at 8,649 through January, an increase of 222 or 2.6% from the same period of the previous year (8,427).
- ■Total liabilities stood at 118,871 million yen (120,519 million yen in the same month of the previous year, down 1.4%), marking the first year-on-year decrease in two months. Jupiter Coffee Co., Ltd., which mainly sold coffee beans as well as imported foods and confectioneries, had the largest amount of liabilities at 5,903 million yen.
- ■By industry, the number of bankruptcies increased year-on-year in five of seven industries. The service industry (to 211 from 218 a year earlier, down 3.2%) had the most, accounting for 24.5% of the total. It was the second highest figure for January after 2025. In the transport and communication industry (to 50 bankruptcies from 30, up 66.7%), the figure rose significantly year-on-year, marking the highest level for January since 2000.
- ■By region, six of nine regions experienced year-on-year increases. The largest rate of increase was in Chugoku (to 51 bankruptcies from 33 in the same month last year, up 54.5%), the second-highest number of cases in January, behind 2009 (53 bankruptcies).
- ■There were 47 bankruptcies “after zero-zero (COVID-19-related) loans,” the first decrease over the same month of the previous year in two months.
- ■The number of bankruptcies due to “labor shortages” in the 10 months to date has already exceeded that in fiscal 2025 and reached a new record high.
- ■There were 48 cases of bankruptcies in which it was “difficult to find successors,” exceeding the previous year for two consecutive months.
- ■There were 75 cases of bankruptcies due to “high prices,” surpassing the previous year for two consecutive months.
Bankruptcy Information TOP