Japan Access Control - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2024 - 2029)

The Japan Access Control Market size is estimated at USD 640 million in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 940 million by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 7.91% during the forecast period (2024-2029).

The market for access control is witnessing significant growth in Japan owing to technological advancements and increased security concerns. Innovations in biometrics, facial recognition, and AI-driven access control systems make these solutions more effective and appealing. Japan's strong technological infrastructure supports the adoption of these advanced systems.

Key Highlights

• Access control is an electronic system that allows authorized personnel to enter restricted, controlled, or secure spaces by presenting an access card to a credential reader. These systems provide a comprehensive and flexible approach to managing physical security. They offer enhanced security, improved accountability, and convenience for various applications.
• As Japan continues to develop its urban infrastructure, there is a growing need for sophisticated security systems in commercial buildings, residential complexes, and public spaces. According to the Central Intelligence Agency, Japan's urban population was 92% the previous year. Further, as per the MLIT (Japan), investment in building construction was forecasted to increase to JPY 43.4 trillion in 2023 from JPY 43.2 trillion in 2022.
• The increasing government investments in infrastructural developments are creating a positive outlook for market growth. For instance, in December 2023, the central government announced that the overall costs to develop infrastructure, such as access to venues, for the 2025 Osaka Kansai Expo would be a total of JPY 839 billion (USD 5.8 billion).
• The development of data centers across the country is expected to boost market growth. Data centers house critical and sensitive information, making them prime targets for physical breaches. Advanced access control systems are essential to ensure that only authorized personnel can access these facilities. In February 2024, Yondr Group formed a partnership with Japanese conglomerate Marubeni Corporation for the development of data centers in Japan. The two will initially build a data center in West Tokyo, with plans for further projects.
• However, the upfront cost of implementing advanced access control systems, including hardware, software, and installation, can be significant. This can be a deterrent for small and medium-sized businesses with limited budgets. Additionally, integrating new access control systems with existing infrastructure and other security systems can be complex and challenging. Compatibility issues and the need for specialized technical expertise can hinder adoption.
• The rising inflation rates have increased the cost of goods and services, including access control systems. Higher costs lead to reduced purchasing power for consumers and businesses, slowing market growth. Further, the war between Russia and Ukraine disrupted the global supply chain, particularly affecting the availability and cost of electronic components and raw materials used in access control systems. This led to delays in production and increased costs for manufacturers.

Japan Access Control Market Trends

The Smart Card Segment is Expected to Register Significant Growth in the Market

• Smartcards are increasingly becoming the standard for secure access control systems. These cards contain an embedded computer chip programmed with personal information about the cardholder and the specific access points they are permitted to enter. These cards can be integrated with various technologies, such as proximity, magnetic-stripe, and biometric systems, to create a flexible and effective security solution.
• Smartcards offer robust security features such as encryption and secure storage of sensitive data, making them ideal for applications that require secure authentication. The advanced processing capabilities and memory of smart cards allow them to transmit highly encrypted data to credential readers for authentication, significantly enhancing security.
• The increasing adoption of IoT devices and smart infrastructure in buildings and cities drives the need for integrated and secure access control systems. Smart cards play a key role in this ecosystem by providing secure and convenient access. Further, the shift toward cloud-based access control systems influences the adoption of smart cards. Cloud solutions offer greater scalability, flexibility, and remote management capabilities, making smart cards an integral part of these systems.
• Government initiatives are driving market demand through the concept of Society 5.0. This vision builds on previous societal phases: Society 1.0 (hunter-gatherer), Society 2.0 (agricultural), Society 3.0 (industrialized), and Society 4.0 (information). Known as the 'super-smart society,' Society 5.0 aims to create a sustainable, inclusive socio-economic model by leveraging digital technologies such as big data analytics, AI, IoT, and robotics.
• New constructions, particularly in commercial, residential, and institutional sectors, are increasingly incorporating smart card systems for access control due to increased security concerns. Smart cards provide a higher level of security compared to traditional keys. They use encryption and can be programmed to allow access to specific areas, reducing the risk of unauthorized entry. As per the MLIT (Japan), in 2023, approximately 819.6 thousand housing starts were initiated in Japan.

The Industrial Sector is Anticipated to Hold a Significant Market Share

• Japan's industrial sector has historically been a cornerstone of its economy, contributing significantly to its GDP and global trade presence. The country is renowned for its technological advancements, particularly in robotics, automotive, and electronics. Continuous innovation in these fields drives growth and keeps Japan at the forefront of global industrial development.
• The primary objectives of many industrial manufacturing facilities are safety and productivity. The latter goal significantly depends on ensuring a safe and secure place for workers, visitors, plant managers, and other leaders. As such, there is a need to increase the level of physical security in industrial manufacturing settings to detect threats, prevent intrusion, and respond appropriately and quickly in the case of any unwanted event.
• Integrated security solutions, such as access control systems and management tools, are significantly adopted in industrial sites to streamline and enhance security operations and reporting. Access control is a way to seamlessly fuse these solutions and help the industrial manufacturing facility reach its goals of safety and productivity. Some of the prime solutions include biometrics, smart sensors, and proximity cards.
• Plant managers should consider adopting biometrics as a tool to accurately verify the staff and visitor identity to reduce any vulnerability. Biometrics' multispectral imaging technology reduces the risk of not detecting the real fingertip from a fake one due to modern polarization vision and different types of light used in capturing the data from the surface, subsurface, and subdermal structures of the skin.
• The growing industrial sector is expected to generate demand for access control devices. According to METI (Japan), the total production value of Japan's electronics industry reached approximately JPY 10.7 trillion (USD 0.076 trillion) in 2023. This industry includes consumer electronic equipment, industrial electronic equipment, and electronic components and devices.

Japan Access Control Industry Overview

The Japanese access control market is highly competitive due to the presence of many key players within national and international boundaries. The market appears fragmented, with the key players adopting strategies like product innovation and mergers and acquisitions. Major players in the market include Thales Group, Bosch Security System Inc., Idemia Group, HID Global, and Axis Communications.

• March 2024: Identiv Inc., a digital security and identification company, introduced ScrambleFactor, a groundbreaking addition to its high-security physical access control system (PACS) portfolio. The ScrambleFactor reader reimagines secure entry for the federal market with fingerprint biometrics and a state-of-the-art LCD touchscreen keypad, integrating multiple authentication methods to deliver unparalleled security, speed, functionality, and convenience.
• Feb 2024: Hikvision launched its second-generation professional access control products. The new products and functionalities represent a significant leap forward in access management and include innovations for web management, flexible authentication, professional access applications, and converged and unified security solutions.

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