In Japan, corporate bankruptcies surged 22 percent in the first half of the year due to rising costs, labor shortages, and waning financial support. According to a recent survey by a credit research company, the total number of bankruptcies from January to June came to 4,887, the highest since 2014. According to media reports, small and micro enterprises were the most affected during the period. The economic landscape is further complicated by the ongoing depreciation of the yen.