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 reserve most stock for larger clients.
Cyber-attack halts production nationwide
Japan’s largest beer producer, Asahi, stopped production 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 processes orders and shipments with pen, paper, and fax machines, sharply reducing delivery volumes.
Asahi supplies about 40% of Japan’s beer market, so the disruption affects bars, restaurants, and retailers across the country. The company apologised for the inconvenience but has not said when full operations will resume.
Retailers face dwindling stock
Supermarkets and convenience stores in Tokyo and Hokkaido report selling remaining Asahi 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 shortages to last at least a month and notes gaps for soft drinks such as ginger beer and soda water.
Major chains warn customers
FamilyMart announced that its Famimaru bottled teas, made 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 operations remain safe
Asahi owns European brands including Peroni, Grolsch, and the British brewer Fuller’s. The company confirmed overseas operations are unaffected.
Ransomware group Qilin claimed responsibility for the attack. The group allows others to launch cyber-attacks in exchange for a share of extortion profits. Asahi has not confirmed full details but said leaked company data appeared online.
Rising global cyber threats
The Asahi attack follows a wave of international cyber incidents. Jaguar Land Rover and Marks and Spencer faced breaches this year. In September, ransomware disrupted check-in systems at multiple European airports.
Japan has also experienced 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.
Cybersecurity gaps exposed in Japan
Despite its high-tech image, Japan struggles with cybersecurity. Experts note a shortage of trained specialists and low digital literacy in many firms. The country only abandoned 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 strong social trust makes it vulnerable. Many organisations are unprepared and willing to pay ransoms, attracting hackers.
Government strengthens cyber defenses
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi confirmed investigations into the Asahi attack and pledged to boost national cyber capabilities. Japan passed the Active Cyber Defense Law earlier this year, granting authorities more powers against 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 bear the brunt
For small businesses like Ben Thai, these measures offer little relief. Owner Sakaolath worries about her next Super Dry delivery. Across Japan, many restaurant and bar owners face the same uncertainty as Asahi works to recover.
