Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced an emergency countermeasures package after dozens of businesses reported unauthorized access and potential data leaks. The announcement shows how quickly cyber threats can reach ordinary users and companies.

The package will initially be funded with 10 billion yen (US$63 million) from the government budget, but the premier said the total cost could be higher and asked the finance minister to find extra money. This shows the scale of the problem the government is trying to solve.

The package will use AI‑based security tools, strengthen investigation systems, reinforce support for victims and add actions to stop damage from spreading, Prime Minister Takaichi said. These steps aim to make attacks harder to succeed.

A "cyber rescue team" made up of government and private‑sector experts will be created, and a secretariat will be set up within the current fiscal year to coordinate the team’s deployment, according to media reports. The team is intended to respond quickly when cyber incidents become acute.

Prime Minister Takaichi warned that unauthorised access incidents are happening one after another, having a major impact on citizens’ lives and corporate activities. She also noted that the Chinese AI cybersecurity tool Artex was used in recent hacks of Japanese firms, including GMO Internet Group, which itself was attacked.