Japan Jan-June bankruptcy hits highest level

TOKYO — Japan's corporate bankruptcies for the first half of this year hit the highest level in a decade, data from a research firm showed on Friday, as high prices, labor shortages and reduction of Covid-era relief complicated firms' management.

There were 4,887 bankruptcies between January and June, up 22 percent from the same period a year ago, according to corporate credit research firm Teikoku Databank.