Key Facts
• Summer bonus season arrives in 2025 amid record wage hikes.
• Average summer bonus in 2025 increased by ¥18,000 to ¥457,000 compared to 2024.
• Survey by Teikoku Databank covered 1,227 companies (146 large, 1,081 small/medium).
• 33.7% of companies reported bonus increases, down from 39.5% in 2024.
• 82.7% of companies provided bonuses, a 2.3% drop from 2024.
• Most common bonus range: ¥300,000–¥500,000 (34.8% of companies).
• Large companies saw 38.4% bonus increases, compared to 33.0% for small/medium firms.
• Small businesses reported 27.0% bonus increases, 11.4% lower than large firms.
• Factors like rising costs, Trump tariffs, and “wage hike fatigue” impacted bonuses.
• Some companies reduced bonuses due to declining profits and economic uncertainty.
Summary
The 2025 summer bonus season reflects mixed trends. While the average bonus rose to ¥457,000, marking a ¥18,000 increase from 2024, fewer companies reported bonus increases compared to the previous year. Large companies outperformed small businesses in bonus growth, highlighting a widening gap. Economic challenges, including rising costs, Trump tariffs, and “wage hike fatigue,” pressured many firms, particularly small businesses, to maintain or reduce bonuses. Despite the overall increase, the percentage of companies offering bonuses declined, signaling underlying economic concerns.
