Only four bottles of Asahi Super Dry beer remain on the shelves of Ben Thai, a small restaurant in Sengawacho, a suburb of Tokyo. Owner Sakaolath Sugizaki hopes to receive more soon, but her supplier keeps most stock for larger clients.
Cyber-attack halts production at Japan’s biggest brewer
Asahi, Japan’s best-selling beer producer, halted production at most of its 30 factories last month after a major cyber-attack. All Japanese facilities, including six breweries, have since partially reopened. Yet, its computer systems remain down. The company now processes orders and shipments manually, relying on pen, paper and fax machines. Shipments have dropped dramatically since the attack.
Asahi controls about 40% of Japan’s beer market, so the disruption hits bars, restaurants and retailers hard. The firm apologised for the difficulties but has not said when operations will return to normal.
Stores across Japan run low on stock
Reporters visiting shops in Tokyo and Hokkaido found that many stores are selling remaining stock but cannot place new orders for Asahi products. These include not only beer but also water and food items.
Liquor store owner Hisako Arisawa in Tokyo fears for her customers. She receives only a few bottles of Super Dry at a time and expects the shortage to last at least a month. She also faces dwindling supplies of Asahi’s soft drinks, including ginger beer and soda water.
Convenience chains warn customers
Some of Japan’s largest convenience chains have begun warning of product shortages. FamilyMart said its Famimaru bottled teas, made by Asahi, may soon be unavailable. 7-Eleven stopped shipments of Asahi products within Japan. Lawson also expects shortages to continue.
Mr. Nakano, an alcohol wholesaler who prefers not to share his first name, said shipments have resumed but at only 10–20% of normal levels. Orders must now be written by hand and sent by fax. Asahi notifies him via fax when trucks leave the factory.
European operations remain safe
Asahi also owns major European brands such as Peroni, Grolsch and the British brewer Fuller’s. The company confirmed that these overseas operations remain unaffected by the cyber-attack.
Ransomware group Qilin, known for targeting large organisations, claimed responsibility for the attack. The group runs a platform that lets others launch cyber-attacks in exchange for a cut of extortion payments.
Asahi has not disclosed full details of the breach but said leaked data appeared online.
A growing global wave of cyber-attacks
This attack joins a long list of recent cyber incidents. Jaguar Land Rover and retailer Marks and Spencer were both targeted earlier this year. In September, a ransomware assault disrupted check-in systems at several European airports, delaying flights.
Japan has also faced repeated strikes. A cyber-attack halted operations at Nagoya’s container terminal for three days in 2024. Last Christmas, hackers breached Japan Airlines, causing delays and cancellations.
Japan’s digital weaknesses exposed
Japan’s high-tech image hides significant cybersecurity gaps. Experts warn of a shortage of skilled professionals and weak digital literacy among businesses. The country only recently stopped asking for official documents on floppy disks, long obsolete elsewhere.
Cartan McLaughlin of Nihon Cyber Defence Group said Japan’s reliance on outdated systems and strong culture of trust make it vulnerable. Many organisations are unprepared and willing to pay ransoms, which encourages more attacks.
Government vows stronger defence
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said the government is investigating the Asahi attack and pledged to strengthen national cyber capabilities. Earlier this year, Japan passed the Active Cyber Defense Law, giving authorities new powers against hackers.
The law allows the government to share more information with companies and lets police and the Self-Defense Forces counterattack servers used by criminals.
Small businesses left struggling
For small businesses like Ben Thai, these new laws bring little comfort. Owner Sakaolath worries what will happen when she next orders Super Dry. Across Japan, many bar and restaurant owners share the same uncertainty.
