Cyberattack Disrupts Asahi Group's Japan Operations
Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd., a prominent Japanese beverage company, announced on Monday, September 29, 2025, that its operations in Japan have been significantly disrupted by a cyberattack. The incident led to a system failure, compelling the company to suspend critical functions including domestic orders and product shipments.
The cyberattack, which occurred around 7:00 a.m. Japan time, has also rendered the company's call center operations and customer service desks unavailable. Furthermore, production at some of Asahi's 30 domestic factories has been temporarily halted.
Impact Limited to Domestic Market, No Data Leak Confirmed
Asahi Group Holdings has clarified that the system failure is strictly limited to its operations within Japan. International branches, including those in Europe, and the supply of products like UK beer, remain unaffected by the incident.
Crucially, the company stated that 'there has been no confirmed leakage of personal information or customer data to external parties' at this time. However, the nature of the cyberattack has not been disclosed, though the widespread system outage could suggest the involvement of ransomware. No specific ransomware groups have publicly claimed responsibility for the attack.
Investigation Underway, Recovery Timeline Undetermined
In an official statement, Asahi Group Holdings expressed its apologies for the inconvenience caused to its customers and business partners. The company confirmed it is 'actively investigating the cause and working to restore operations.' Despite these efforts, there is currently 'no estimated timeline for recovery' of the affected systems.
The incident highlights a growing trend of cyberattacks targeting major corporations. Asahi, known for popular brands such as Asahi Super Dry beer, Nikka Whisky, and Mitsuya Cider, holds a significant market share in Japan, estimated between one-third and 40%. The disruption could have substantial financial implications and ripple effects across its supply chain and for resellers.
5 Comments
Rotfront
Good they contained it to Japan. Could have been way worse globally.
Karamba
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of robust cybersecurity infrastructure for all companies, regardless of size. While Asahi is likely doing its best to mitigate, this event will undoubtedly force a re-evaluation of their entire digital defense strategy.
Mariposa
Asahi's apology is appropriate, but the lack of an estimated recovery timeline is concerning for affected businesses and consumers. It highlights the unpredictable nature of these attacks and the difficulty in quickly restoring complex systems.
Muchacha
No personal data leaked, that's the main thing to celebrate here.
Manolo Noriega
This will hurt their brand image and market share significantly. A huge misstep.