Corporate bankruptcies in Japan jumped to the highest in a decade in the first six months of this year.
A survey by credit researcher Teikoku Databank shows some failed after being unable to repay interest-free loans taken out during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The survey says 4,887 companies went under with debts of at least 10 million yen, or 60,000 dollars. That's up 22 percent from the same period last year.
The service sector had the largest number of bankruptcies at 1,228, up 28 percent. That was followed by retailers and construction businesses.
The trucking industry took a hit from a shortage of drivers and higher fuel prices. A total of 186 trucking companies went bust, the highest since 2009.
A total of 390 businesses attributed their bankruptcy to lacking the funds to repay pandemic loans.