By country
Layoffs in Japan
10 sourced layoff rounds at 9 companies in Japan between Feb 2024 and May 2026: 48,500 people in the rounds where a number was given. Each one links to the article or filing it came from. The list covers what we have been able to source, not every cut in the country.
People affected
49K
Where a number was given
Companies
9
With a sourced round
Rounds
10
Feb 2024 → May 2026
Every round, newest first
- Takeda−4,500
The Japanese drugmaker is centralising corporate functions; it said it also has about 2,200 open roles.
About the figure: Takeda said the figure is less than 10% of its global workforce and does not include hiring plans.
Pharma & Healthcare · Source: Reuters (via WSAU)
- Olympus−2,000
Olympus announced about 2,000 global job cuts in a reorganisation of its endoscopy business under a new chief executive.
Pharma & Healthcare · Source: Yahoo Finance (MedTech Dive)
- Panasonic−10,000(4% of workforce)
Global restructuring split between Japan and overseas operations.
Industrial & Manufacturing · Source: Reuters
- Nissan−11,000
Nissan said it would close seven factories and cut a further 11,000 jobs, taking total announced cuts to 20,000.
About the figure: Headline figure is 20,000 but that includes the 9,000 already recorded as nissan-2024-11; count is the 11,000 new cuts to avoid double counting. The 15% is the combined share, so percent is left null.
Automotive · Source: The Guardian
- Nissan−9,000
Announced with a 20% cut in global production capacity after a sharp drop in profit.
Automotive · Source: BBC
- Ricoh−2,000
Ricoh announced a global reduction of 2,000 staff as office printer use and sales decline.
Hardware & Chips · Source: Sprinter
Sharp sought early retirements at its Sakai plant in Osaka as it ended production of large LCD panels for televisions.
About the figure: Reported by sources; voluntary early retirement.
Hardware & Chips · Source: Arab News Japan
- Toshiba−4,000
Toshiba announced domestic job cuts through early retirement after being taken private by Japan Industrial Partners.
About the figure: Up to 4,000, about 6% of the domestic workforce, mainly via early retirement.
Industrial & Manufacturing · Source: The Star (Reuters)
- Sumitomo Chemical−4,000(10% of workforce)
Sumitomo Chemical planned to downsize its drug and petrochemical businesses after a record loss.
Materials & Chemicals · Source: Chemical & Engineering News
- Shiseido−1,500
Shiseido offered an early retirement incentive plan in Japan as part of a transformation of its domestic business.
About the figure: Voluntary early retirement; about 1,500 expected to leave.
Consumer Goods & Food · Source: Premium Beauty News (AFP)
Search every company in the directory, or read how we choose and check events in the methodology.