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 new stock will arrive soon, but suppliers reserve most inventory for larger clients.
Asahi halts production after cyber-attack
Japan’s top-selling beer producer, Asahi, shut down most of its 30 factories last month following a cyber-attack. All facilities, including six breweries, have partially reopened, but computer systems remain offline. The company now processes orders and shipments manually, relying on pen, paper, and fax machines, reducing delivery volumes sharply.
Asahi controls about 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 dwindling stock
Supermarkets and convenience stores in Tokyo and Hokkaido report selling remaining Asahi stock while unable to place new orders. These 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. She also struggles to get soft drinks like ginger beer and soda water.
Convenience chains warn of supply gaps
Major convenience chains are alerting customers about limited availability. FamilyMart said its Famimaru bottled teas, produced by Asahi, may soon run out. 7-Eleven halted shipments of Asahi products, and Lawson also expects shortages.
Wholesaler Mr. Nakano now receives just 10–20% of his normal orders. He submits requests by hand and confirms deliveries via fax when trucks leave Asahi factories.
European operations remain unaffected
Asahi owns European brands including Peroni, Grolsch, and the British brewer Fuller’s. The company confirmed that overseas operations are not impacted by the cyber-attack.
Ransomware group Qilin claimed responsibility for the attack. The group provides a platform for 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.
Global cyber threats escalate
The Asahi attack follows a wave of global cyber incidents. Jaguar Land Rover and retailer Marks and Spencer faced similar breaches this year. In September, a ransomware attack disrupted check-in systems at several European airports.
Japan has also experienced cyber-attacks. A strike froze operations at Nagoya’s container terminal for three days in 2024. Hackers also targeted Japan Airlines last Christmas, causing delays and cancellations.
Japan’s cybersecurity gaps exposed
Despite its high-tech image, Japan faces significant cybersecurity challenges. Experts highlight a shortage of skilled professionals 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 high social trust makes it vulnerable. Many organisations are unprepared and quick to pay ransoms, attracting hackers.
Government vows stronger cyber defenses
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi confirmed investigations into the Asahi attack and pledged to enhance 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 lets police and the Self-Defense Forces take offensive action against criminal servers.
Small businesses face uncertainty
For small businesses like Ben Thai, these measures provide little relief. Owner Sakaolath worries about her next delivery of Super Dry. Across Japan, many restaurant and bar owners share the same uncertainty as Asahi works to recover.
