Japan Firms and Supply Chains: Update June 10, 2026.

Nearly half of Japanese firms lack supply-chain resilience measures

Ideas:

What it always comes down to, in many situations related to change or the future is companies having the needed resources to make the changes and the time to make the changes. And at the same time, in some companies, there is the resistance of some, usually the old-guard in a company, that doesn't want to see changes as prefer things as they are.

Supply chain protections should be a given for any company but again money and time are the main variables that limit companies from implementing the changes. They know they need to protect their supply chains but most are just hoping that nothing will happen to their supply chains in the future.

The fact that only 25.9 percent of companies have made the needed changes is about right with either companies or individuals doing what is needed, as always, for any situation as it more common to just put it off or do it at a later date.

Companies and humans tend to just put things off until its finally needed or necessary or because of an emergency or critical situation has occurred that has forced someone or some company to take action.

In the case of some food companies taking steps to change their packaging, it might have been seen as possible health issues that would have affected their food products so they needed to make the changes quickly to protect their products and their bottom line.

You would think, with a country prone to potentially many natural disasters, that companies would have plans in place to prevent supply chain disruptions, but again time and money might be the main variables preventing such actions.

While Japan's economy is a very staple economy, it is prone to potential disruptions, and for the most part, its a very mature economy that doesn't grow that much or that fast, and can't afford anything that might keep it from operating correctly, such as production stoppages, supply chain blockages or stops and or even less consumer spending related to many things.

It's not surprising that 56.3 percent of smaller firms have not taken any steps to protect their supply chains or maybe even diversify their supply chains as again it takes time and money and it takes connections, globally, to find new or better supply chain connections and some small companies or many in Japan just don't have the resources needed to accomplish all of that.

And as expected, 26.8 and 49.6 percent of large and midsize companies, respectively, have not taken any action, which shows again, that larger companies might have more resources needed to diversify their supply chains and of course some midsize firms have but 49.6 have not taken any action yet.

Again, it's not a surprise, but it seems the article is just repeating itself and its known that large companies have more resources have of course more have taken the needed steps to diversify their supply chains while smaller companies in Japan just don't have the resources or even the time to do what is needed.

All these are good and needed such as "diversifying suppliers," "risk communication with suppliers," and "cooperation among companies and mutual support"are actions that all companies should be engaged in but again it takes time and money for all of these actions and in a super-stressed out global world that is constantly time constrained no company has the time to try and do all three of these important critical actions.

Have a nice day!

Article source:  https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260601/p2g/00m/0bu/004000c