There were 934 corporate bankruptcies nationwide in October 2026, down 3.2% from the same month a year earlier, with total liabilities of ¥129.318 billion. Although bankruptcies remained below the year-earlier level for the second consecutive month, small-scale bankruptcies predominated, and the top 5 companies accounted for most of the total liabilities.
There were 934 corporate bankruptcies nationwide in October 2026 involving liabilities of ¥10 million or more, down 3.2% from the same month a year earlier, with total liabilities of ¥129.318 billion. The number of cases was the third-highest level since the beginning of the year, but remained below the year-earlier level for the second consecutive month and exceeded the level seen in October for the first time in 5 years.
By size, there was 1 case involving liabilities of ¥10 billion or more, 2 involving liabilities of ¥5 billion to less than ¥10 billion, and 21 involving liabilities of ¥1 billion or more. While bankruptcies among mid-sized companies showed an upward trend, small-scale bankruptcies, involving liabilities of less than ¥100 million, totaled 711 cases, or 76.1% of the total, meaning that small-scale bankruptcies continued to predominate.
By industry and region, the service sector recorded the highest number of bankruptcies, at 342, with increases among elderly welfare and nursing-care businesses and izakaya restaurants. By region, cases exceeded the year-earlier level in Hokkaido, Tohoku, Chubu and Hokuriku, while they fell in Kanto, Kinki and Kyushu. The bankruptcy data included 50 labor-shortage-related cases, the highest October figure, and 80 cases related to high prices. A notable case was 日本トイザらス’s filing for civil rehabilitation.
The top 5 companies by liabilities were 日本トイザらス at ¥13.226 billion, Gaia Funding at ¥5.761 billion, KW at ¥5 billion, Shonan Fukushi Kyokai at ¥4.964 billion, and Daisho Kensetsu at ¥3.518 billion, in that order.