Japan's Cybersecurity Lag Raises Concerns Amid Rising Cyber Threats
Japan's National Cyber Director, Yoichi Iida, has highlighted the country's lag in cybersecurity compared to the United States and Europe. Speaking at the CYDEF 2025 conference in Tokyo, Iida emphasized the need for significant improvements across Japan's corporate sector to defend against increasing cyber threats. Recent cyberattacks, including a ransomware attack on Asahi Group Holdings Ltd. and a breach at Askul Corp., have exposed vulnerabilities in Japan's cybersecurity infrastructure. Iida noted that smaller companies are particularly vulnerable due to limited resources, but larger firms are also at risk. Japan has recently adopted an 'active cyber-defense' law to enhance its cybersecurity measures, aiming to reach the standards of advanced Western nations. The law allows authorities to neutralize sources of cyber threats and publicize information about attackers to deter further activity.