Japan to Urge Large Firms to Cover Supply Chain Cybersecurity Costs as Attacks Mount

Who pays when your smallest supplier gets hacked? In Japan, the answer may soon be everyone in the supply chain. The Japanese government plans to urge large corporations to pass on and share the costs of cybersecurity across their entire networks, a direct response to a wave of attacks that exploited vulnerabilities at smaller partner firms.

The Weakest Link Problem

According to a Nikkei report on December 25, 2025, Tokyo's policy shift is driven by the growing realization that small and midsize enterprises (SMEs) have become the soft underbelly of Japan's industrial ecosystem. Lacking the financial resources to keep up with sophisticated cyber threats, these SMEs are seen as a primary entry point for attackers. High-profile incidents, such as the breaches at beverage giant Asahi and office-supply retailer Askul, which reportedly stemmed from their supply chains, have highlighted the urgent need for a new approach.

A New Standard for Shared Responsibility

The government intends to establish a new standard for cybersecurity preparedness. This framework is expected to go beyond individual company audits and encourage—or pressure—large corporations to take financial responsibility for the security posture of their smaller suppliers. In essence, it treats supply chain cybersecurity as a form of collective insurance.

For major companies, this could mean new operational costs and oversight burdens. However, the long-term benefit is a more resilient supply chain, shielding them from the massive financial and reputational damage a single breach can cause. For SMEs, it offers a financial lifeline but will likely come with new compliance obligations to meet the standards set by their larger partners.