Japan Announces Cyber Emergency Following Massive Attacks on Major Fir

Japan Announces Cyber Emergency Following Massive Attacks on Major Firms

Japan declared a cyberspace emergency after cyberattacks hit over 20 large companies and public infrastructure.

NationPulse Desk

Oct 15, 2026 · 7:23 PM 2 min read

Key takeaways

Japan declared a state of emergency in cyberspace after attacks hit over 20 major companies and public infrastructure.

Impacted businesses include Times Car and Lawson, along with targeted hospitals and government facilities.

Stolen driver licence images from the Times Car breach appeared on dark web marketplaces for as little as ¥25, or around $0.15.

Financial institutions must now require identification with electronic chips, such as passports or My Number cards, instead of relying solely on driver licences.

A high-ranking government official announced a cyber emergency in Japan following a series of digital intrusions targeting over 20 large corporations and key public infrastructure systems.

Affected organizations include convenience store chain Lawson and car rental operator Times Car, alongside reported targets like government sites and hospitals.

Security specialists suspect artificial intelligence might have sped up or supported elements of the intrusions, though authorities have not yet confirmed the precise function of artificial intelligence.

Personal Data Exposed

These security breaches potentially compromised tens of many millions of confidential and personal data records, including driver licence photos tied to the Times Car incident.

Some stolen licence photographs surfaced on dark web trading platforms for prices as low as ¥25, roughly equal to $0.15.

Specialists in digital security have cautioned for years that gaps in national digital protections left critical personal records open to threats.

Government Calls Situation "Extremely Critical"

Masaaki Taira, who leads the National Cybersecurity Strategy Headquarters in Japan, characterized the event as a "state of emergency in cyberspace."

Toshiharu Furukawa, the cybersecurity minister, similarly termed the current circumstances and national response "extremely critical."

Authorities are currently rolling out steps to lower the danger of stolen identification papers getting used for monetary crimes.

Banks Told Not to Rely on Driver's Licences Alone

Banking institutions received instructions to stop accepting driver licences as the sole proof of identity for opening fresh bank accounts.

Account holders must now supply identification with an electronic chip, including passports or the My Number card of Japan.

This shift follows recent security breaches that made compromised licence details accessible to digital criminals.

The incidents add urgency for Japanese enterprises and public bodies to upgrade their digital defense networks as dangers grow more sophisticated and large data leaks persist.

Questions and answers

Which companies were affected by the cyberattacks in Japan?

The attacks have affected businesses including car rental operator Times Car and convenience store chain Lawson, while hospitals and government facilities have also reportedly been targeted.

What new identification rules do Japanese banks have to follow?

Financial institutions have been instructed not to accept a driver's licence as the only form of identification when opening new bank accounts, requiring identification containing an electronic chip instead.