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Ransomware Attacks Increasing in Japan: JIPDEC Report 2026

A recent survey conducted by the Japan Information Economy Society Promotion Association (JIPDEC) in January 2026 highlights alarming trends regarding ransomware attacks in Japan. The results reveal that 45.8% of the 1,107 surveyed companies reported having experienced ransomware infections. Moreover, the report notes an increasing trend in the number of companies choosing not to pay ransom, which has surged over the years. Since the last survey, the rate of companies unable to recover data after refusing to pay the ransom has risen from 10.5% to 13.0%.

The survey emphasizes that ransomware attacks are no longer selective and are affecting businesses of all sizes across various industries, with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) increasingly becoming targets. Notably, the manufacturing sector is particularly vulnerable, with 57.1% of manufacturers reporting ransomware incidents. Among these, 18.2% paid the ransom but still failed to recover their systems or data.

In terms of recovery efforts, the majority of companies reported that it took between one week and one month to restore their systems following an attack. The time required for recovery varied significantly depending upon whether or not a ransom was paid. While some businesses managed to restore their systems within a month without paying a ransom, others struggled for longer periods and ultimately gave up on recovery efforts.

Interestingly, from the financial perspective, nearly half of the affected companies reported monetary losses between 1 million to 50 million yen. However, there were also reports of cases where damages skyrocketed beyond 1 billion yen. A significant portion of the losses can be attributed to the costs associated with investigations, ransom payments, system recoveries, and enhanced cybersecurity measures that companies needed to implement after an attack.

Another critical impact of ransomware attacks is the loss or corruption of irreplaceable data. The survey indicates that 51.3% of companies experienced data that could not be restored or was irreparably damaged. Additionally, there has been a noticeable increase in the leakage of confidential information, reflecting an uptick from 29.3% to 35.1% in reported incidents since the last survey. Other reported impacts include operational downtime and revenue losses due to customer churn, which increased by about three percentage points.

As businesses continue to grapple with these challenges, JIPDEC's survey sheds light on the crucial need for enhanced cybersecurity measures and strategies to combat ransomware threats. With ongoing developments in the digital landscape, companies must remain vigilant and proactive in securing their digital assets.

The 2026 Corporate IT Utilization Trends Survey conducted by JIPDEC involved responses from individuals working in IT strategic planning and security roles across Japanese firms. The findings emphasize the existing gaps in preparedness and response capabilities when dealing with cyber threats like ransomware.

The JIPDEC has been dedicated to advancing Japan's information society since 1967, focusing on various technical and institutional challenges related to information utilization. The association offers guidelines and conducts research aimed at improving privacy governance and the secure handling of personal information.

For comprehensive insights and further details, the full analysis of JIPDEC's survey results will be available on their website in mid-April.