A credit research firm says corporate bankruptcies in Japan rose in November for the 19th consecutive month. This comes as interest-free loans taken out for pandemic relief start to come due for many firms. The deferment period for the social welfare premium has also ended.

Teikoku Databank says 773 businesses began legal liquidation proceedings last month. That's up over a third from a year earlier, putting insolvencies back at pre-pandemic levels.

The service industry had the largest number with 196, followed by retail with 170 and construction with 141.

The Financial Services Agency has now requested lenders to shift their focus from providing loans to supporting corporate customers rebuild their businesses.