Tech companies in Japan are relying on authorities to fight cybercrime. These organizations are being targeted by hacker groups in an attempt to steal sensitive information online. According to statistics, there was a surge in online banking frauds back in 2023 that resulted in losses of up to ¥8.7 billion.
Cybercrimes have been on the rise in Japan due to the vast number of people having access to the internet. Malware, phishing scams, password thefts, and denial-of-service attacks are the most common types of cybercrimes taking place across the Asian country. The Japanese government is implementing security measures to counter cybercrimes and to help tech companies prevent cyberattacks on their customers.
Take a look at the biggest news in cybercrimes trending in Japan.
Japan and the US seek action against North Korean hackers
Several nations including Japan, the US, and South Korea have aligned to seek action against North Korea for hacking. In early 2025, North Korea was accused of being involved in a number of cyberattacks to disrupt the financial system on a global scale. Recently, the Japanese crypto company, DMM Bitcoin, underwent a cyberattack that deprived them of $308 million.
Hackers from North Korea are being investigated to retrieve the stolen crypto assets that belonged to DMM Bitcoin. International government bodies are concerned that the heist may lead to hackers funding ballistic missile programs and other weapons of mass destruction. North Korea has multiple cybercrimes associated with hacker groups in its country within the past few months. Crypto companies such as Rain Management, and Upbit have also been victims of cyberattacks that may have originated from North Korea.
Chainalysis has published a report that has stated that North Korea was involved in cybercrimes worth a total of $1.34 billion in crypto assets. The tech company, Chainalysis, focuses on providing cybersecurity solutions to prevent blockchain-related attacks online. Cryptocurrency experts working for the United Nations are addressing the concerns of the US, South Korea, and Japan, to find feasible actions that can help tech companies avoid having their digital assets stolen in the future.
Cybercrime investigations are a priority for the Tokyo police force
The increase in cybercrime investigations has led to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) to expand its team. Police officers have been assigned to verify information on cyber criminals by identifying the bank accounts involved in malicious online activities. Fraud, drug trafficking, and illegal online casinos are among the activities that are being investigated by the MPD.
In 2024, the total number of police units in the cybercrime department shot up from 28 to 46. It has enabled the MPD to conduct their investigations at a faster rate compared to previous years in the cybercrime department. A majority of the banks, internet service providers, and casino companies are based out of Tokyo, Japan.
People in Japan spend loads of time playing fun slot machine games like Fortune Dragon and pachinko. There are over 10,000 pachinko parlors that are operational in Japan. These entertainment centers generate tons of money for Japan every year. Illegal casinos can be found all around Tokyo and its nearby regions, attracting people to gamble their earnings by playing card games to collect their rewards.
Apart from slot machine games, mahjong and rock, paper, scissors, are the most popular games played in Japanese casinos. Licenses to run a casino in Japan are issued by the Casino Administration Committee that was established in January 2020. Mobile gambling sites like bitstarz.com and wins.io are regularly accessed by Japanese gamblers for their special offers and the convenience of betting money online since most casinos in the country are illegal.
Media mogul Kadokawa attacked by hackers
Kadokawa is one of the biggest media houses in Japan. In July 2024, a hacker group called BlackSuit attacked Kadokawa and managed to acquire the personal information of its employees. Streaming services and book shipments were also affected by the cyberattack. Cybersecurity companies like Trend Micro have been monitoring the activities of BlackSuit, claiming that the hacker group was also responsible for striking a US software firm in June 2023.
It took less than a day after the cyberattack took place for Kadokawa to contact the MPD. Police officials are putting in a lot of effort to uncover the motives behind the cybercrime. The headquarters of Kadokawa is located in Fujimi, Chiyoda, in Tokyo. It also owns an anime studio, a video game studio, and real estate in Japan.
18 people arrested by Japanese authorities in Monero-related cybercrimes
Cybercrime units in Japan apprehended 18 culprits in October 2023 by tracing Monero transactions. For the first time in the history of cryptocurrency, Monero tokens were reviewed by the Japanese cybercrime department to take action against a money laundering attempt of ¥100 million.
More than 900 crypto transactions were analyzed to zero in on the criminals responsible for money laundering. Yuta Kobayashi, the suspected leader of the hacker group, was arrested for his crimes. He was in charge of the 18-member group that moved the crypto assets to various accounts and e-wallets. Cryptocurrencies like Monero (XMR), Ethereum (ETH), and Bitcoin (BTC), are trending on international financial markets for their high trade volume and performance. Japanese authorities are taking special care to protect crypto investors in their country from cyber threats.