Corporate Bankruptcies in March 2026 Reached 943, Exceeding the Previous Year for the 4th Consecutive Month - National Corporate Bankruptcy Report March 2026
According to Teikoku Databank, corporate bankruptcies in Japan in March 2026 totaled 943, a 7.8% YoY increase, marking the fourth consecutive month of growth. The service sector saw the highest number of cases.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 8, 2026 at 22:30
- 🔍 Collected: April 8, 2026 at 14:00
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 20, 2026 at 15:55 (289h 55m after Collected)
Teikoku Databank, Ltd. has compiled and analyzed the number of corporate bankruptcies (targeting legal liquidations with liabilities of 10 million yen or more) for March 2026.
Overview and Key Points
- The number of bankruptcies was 943 (an increase of 7.8% from 875 in the same month of the previous year), exceeding the previous year for the fourth consecutive month, and the third highest in fiscal 2025 following July 2025 (956 cases). This is the first time in five months that the monthly count has exceeded 900. For the month of March, it is the first time in 14 years since 2012 (1,040 cases) that the number has surpassed 900.
- Total liabilities amounted to 130,411 million yen (an increase of 33.9% from 97,386 million yen in the same month of the previous year), exceeding the previous year for the first time in three months. The largest liability was 12 billion yen of 'Mikawa Country Club Co., Ltd.', which operated a membership-based golf club.
- By industry, six out of seven industries exceeded the previous year. The 'Service industry' (from 239 to 251 cases, a 5.0% increase) was the highest, recording the second highest number since 2000 after July 2025 (263 cases). The 'Retail industry' (from 176 to 194 cases, a 10.2% increase) exceeded the previous year for the third consecutive month.
- By primary cause, 'recession-type bankruptcies', including 'difficulty in collecting accounts receivable' which reached a 10-year high, stood at 771 cases, accounting for 81.8% of the total, exceeding the previous year for the third consecutive month.
- By mode of bankruptcy, 43 cases of 'rehabilitation-type' bankruptcies occurred, exceeding 40 cases for the month of March for the first time in 14 years since 2012 (54 cases).
- By scale, there were 575 cases with liabilities 'under 50 million yen', the highest for the month of March since 2000.
- By business history, '30 years or more' was the most common at 324 cases, the highest for March in the past 10 years.
- By region, seven out of nine regions exceeded the previous year. The 'Kinki region' (from 232 to 271 cases YoY, a 16.8% increase) exceeded the previous year for the fourth consecutive month, marking the highest in the past 10 years.
Calculation Period: March 1, 2026 - March 31, 2026
Announcement Date: April 8, 2026
Target: Bankruptcies via legal liquidation with liabilities of 10 million yen or more.
The next announcement is scheduled for Wednesday, May 13 at 1:30 PM.
'Service Industry' Recorded 251 Cases, 2nd Highest Since 2000
Looking by industry, six out of seven industries exceeded the previous year. The 'Service industry' (from 239 to 251 cases, a 5.0% increase) was the highest, recording the second highest number since 2000 after July 2025 (263 cases). The 'Retail industry' (from 176 to 194 cases, a 10.2% increase) exceeded the previous year for the third consecutive month. The 'Construction industry' (from 171 to 191 cases, an 11.7% increase) exceeded the previous year, marking the highest in fiscal 2025.
Overview and Key Points
- The number of bankruptcies was 943 (an increase of 7.8% from 875 in the same month of the previous year), exceeding the previous year for the fourth consecutive month, and the third highest in fiscal 2025 following July 2025 (956 cases). This is the first time in five months that the monthly count has exceeded 900. For the month of March, it is the first time in 14 years since 2012 (1,040 cases) that the number has surpassed 900.
- Total liabilities amounted to 130,411 million yen (an increase of 33.9% from 97,386 million yen in the same month of the previous year), exceeding the previous year for the first time in three months. The largest liability was 12 billion yen of 'Mikawa Country Club Co., Ltd.', which operated a membership-based golf club.
- By industry, six out of seven industries exceeded the previous year. The 'Service industry' (from 239 to 251 cases, a 5.0% increase) was the highest, recording the second highest number since 2000 after July 2025 (263 cases). The 'Retail industry' (from 176 to 194 cases, a 10.2% increase) exceeded the previous year for the third consecutive month.
- By primary cause, 'recession-type bankruptcies', including 'difficulty in collecting accounts receivable' which reached a 10-year high, stood at 771 cases, accounting for 81.8% of the total, exceeding the previous year for the third consecutive month.
- By mode of bankruptcy, 43 cases of 'rehabilitation-type' bankruptcies occurred, exceeding 40 cases for the month of March for the first time in 14 years since 2012 (54 cases).
- By scale, there were 575 cases with liabilities 'under 50 million yen', the highest for the month of March since 2000.
- By business history, '30 years or more' was the most common at 324 cases, the highest for March in the past 10 years.
- By region, seven out of nine regions exceeded the previous year. The 'Kinki region' (from 232 to 271 cases YoY, a 16.8% increase) exceeded the previous year for the fourth consecutive month, marking the highest in the past 10 years.
Calculation Period: March 1, 2026 - March 31, 2026
Announcement Date: April 8, 2026
Target: Bankruptcies via legal liquidation with liabilities of 10 million yen or more.
The next announcement is scheduled for Wednesday, May 13 at 1:30 PM.
'Service Industry' Recorded 251 Cases, 2nd Highest Since 2000
Looking by industry, six out of seven industries exceeded the previous year. The 'Service industry' (from 239 to 251 cases, a 5.0% increase) was the highest, recording the second highest number since 2000 after July 2025 (263 cases). The 'Retail industry' (from 176 to 194 cases, a 10.2% increase) exceeded the previous year for the third consecutive month. The 'Construction industry' (from 171 to 191 cases, an 11.7% increase) exceeded the previous year, marking the highest in fiscal 2025.