TOKYO, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Personal information on a cumulative total of about 260 million people was compromised in Japan from the start of the current fiscal year in April to mid-October, according to data recently released by the Personal Information Protection Commission.
The total, roughly twice Japan's population, includes many people who were counted more than once because they were affected by multiple incidents.
The figures are based on data leak cases reported to the commission between April 1 and Oct. 16 by businesses handling personal information, excluding financial and telecommunications firms, suggesting the actual scale could be even larger.
According to the data, a total of 2,094 incidents of unauthorized access to personal information were reported during the period. Of these, six incidents each resulted in the leak of personal information on more than 10 million people.
The number of breach incidents has been on the rise, surging in October in particular. A total of 830 incidents were reported in the first half of October alone, compared with 303 in the whole of September. In fiscal 2025, a total of 1,256 incidents were reported for the entire year, according to Kyodo News.
The trend is borne out by a string of recent reports in Japanese media.
On Wednesday alone, several companies and institutions, including Sony Life Insurance Co., discount retailer Don Quijote, video game publisher Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc., and Kyushu University and its affiliated hospital, said personal data may have been compromised following unauthorized access to their websites or other systems.
On Friday, more Japanese companies reported possible leaks, including Muji brand operator Ryohin Keikaku Co., restaurant chain operator Matsuya Foods Holdings Co., and All Nippon Airways Co.
"The number of large-scale leaks is increasing rapidly, and the government is taking the situation very seriously," Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said at a press conference Friday, adding that the government will compile a package of emergency countermeasures quickly. ■