Only four bottles of Asahi Super Dry remain on the shelves at Ben Thai, a small restaurant in Tokyo’s Sengawacho district. Owner Sakaolath Sugizaki hopes for new deliveries soon, but suppliers hold most stock for larger clients.
Major beer production halts after cyber-attack
Japan’s leading beer producer, Asahi, stopped operations at most of its 30 factories last month after a cyber-attack. All facilities, including six breweries, have partially reopened, but computer systems remain offline. The company now relies on pen, paper, and fax machines to process orders and shipments, drastically reducing delivery volumes.
Asahi accounts for around 40% of Japan’s beer market, so the disruption hits bars, restaurants, and retailers hard. The company apologised for the inconvenience but has not announced when full operations will resume.
Stores struggle with low inventory
Supermarkets and convenience stores in Tokyo and Hokkaido report selling remaining stock while unable to place new orders. Shortages affect beer, soft drinks, and other Asahi products.
Liquor store owner Hisako Arisawa in Tokyo receives only a few bottles of Super Dry at a time. She expects the shortage to last at least a month and notes similar gaps for soft drinks like ginger beer and soda water.
Convenience chains warn of shortages
Major convenience chains have alerted customers about limited availability. FamilyMart said its Famimaru bottled teas, produced by Asahi, may run out soon. 7-Eleven halted shipments of Asahi products, and Lawson also predicts shortages.
Wholesaler Mr. Nakano now receives only 10–20% of his usual orders. He submits requests by hand and receives delivery notifications via fax when trucks leave Asahi factories.
European brands unaffected by attack
Asahi owns European beer brands such as Peroni, Grolsch, and the British brewer Fuller’s. The company confirmed that its overseas operations remain untouched.
Ransomware group Qilin claimed responsibility for the attack. The group runs a platform allowing others to launch cyber-attacks in exchange for a share of extortion profits. Asahi has not confirmed full details but stated that leaked company data appeared online.
Cyber threats continue worldwide
The Asahi attack follows a series of global cyber incidents. Jaguar Land Rover and Marks and Spencer faced breaches this year. In September, ransomware disrupted check-in systems at several European airports.
Japan has also suffered cyber-attacks. A strike froze operations at Nagoya’s container terminal for three days in 2024. Hackers targeted Japan Airlines last Christmas, causing delays and cancellations.
Japan’s cybersecurity vulnerabilities exposed
Despite its high-tech reputation, Japan faces major cybersecurity challenges. Experts note a shortage of trained specialists and low digital literacy in many firms. The country only stopped using floppy disks for government paperwork last year, decades after other nations.
Cartan McLaughlin from Nihon Cyber Defence Group said Japan’s reliance on outdated systems and high social trust makes it vulnerable. Many organisations are unprepared and willing to pay ransoms, attracting hackers.
Government pledges stronger defenses
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi confirmed an investigation into the Asahi attack and vowed to strengthen national cyber capabilities. Japan passed the Active Cyber Defense Law earlier this year, giving authorities more powers to counter hackers.
The law allows better information sharing with companies and authorises police and the Self-Defense Forces to take offensive action against criminal servers.
Small businesses left uncertain
For small businesses like Ben Thai, these measures offer little relief. Owner Sakaolath worries about her next delivery of Super Dry. Across Japan, many bar and restaurant owners share the same uncertainty as Asahi works to restore operations.
