37.1% of Japanese Companies Increase Summer Bonuses; Average Payment Rises to 477,000 JPY

Survey Overview According to a survey of 1,043 companies nationwide conducted by Teikoku Databank, 37.1% of companies plan to increase summer bonuses per employee for 2026, marking a 3.4-point increase from the previous year. Meanwhile, 37.2% said their bonuses would remain unchanged, and 10.7% indicated a decrease. Overall, 85.0% of companies confirmed they will pay bonuses, up from 82.7% last year.

Disparities by Company Size The survey highlights a widening gap based on company size. While 44.4% of large enterprises plan to increase bonuses, surpassing the overall average of 37.1%, only 36.0% of SMEs and 31.4% of small businesses plan to do so. While performance improvement is the primary driver for salary increases, many companies are increasing bonuses to secure talent and maintain employee motivation, even in cases where business performance is stagnant or deteriorating.

Trends in Average Payments The average summer bonus per regular employee in 2026 was 477,000 JPY, an increase of 18,000 JPY from 459,000 JPY in 2025. The most common bonus range was between 300,000 and 500,000 JPY, representing 37.0% of companies surveyed. The rise is partly attributed to the broader momentum for wage hikes and base pay increases.

Polarization and Outlook Conversely, some companies are forced to suppress bonus payments due to profit pressures from rising raw material and logistics costs influenced by Middle East tensions. Some businesses suggest that a winter bonus reduction may be inevitable due to economic uncertainty, pointing toward a growing polarization in bonus trends. While the push to improve compensation is expected to continue amid chronic labor shortages, sustained increases are becoming increasingly difficult due to rising costs.