Cybersecurity

— Latest update: June 2025 —

Japan has been one of the leading countries in the commercial application of information and communications technologies since the early 1980s. Nevertheless, Japan is currently considered one of the weakest among the 15 main global powers when it comes to cyber self-defense, as argued by the International Institute for Strategic Studies in of its latest report. According to the ESET Threat Report (second half of 2024), Japan experienced a dramatic surge in detections of credential-stealing malware. On one day in 2024, ESET recorded over 7,000 Formbook malware detections worldwide, half of which occurred in Japan. These figures mark Japan as one of the top hotspots for cyber threats worldwide for a fourth consecutive year. Despite efforts to improve its cybersecurity infrastructure, Japan continues to face significant challenges in adopting robust security measures. Cybersecurity still seems to be an underestimated industry at the eyes of Japanese entrepreneurs and institutions, whereas many of the OECD member states have set investments in this area as a priority target.

Despite these challenges, Japan has made notable progress in recent years, particularly in establishing governance frameworks and national strategies for cybersecurity. The 2020s are a pivotal decade for Japan. The EU-Japan Security and Defence Partnership came into force in 2025 highlights cybersecurity as a priority area of bilateral cooperation, reinforcing Japan’s shift toward more internationally coordinated digital defense efforts.

IISS, Cyber Capabilities and National Power: A Net Assessment, 2021
ESET, ESET Threat Report (Second half of 2024), 2024
European Union External Action, EU-Japan Security and Defence Partnership, 2024
NISC, About NISC, 2021

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