Businesses reported 405 cases of personal data leaks in fiscal 2004, Cabinet Office officials said Thursday, citing reports submitted to various government agencies.

The number was collated from government ministries and agencies at a meeting of the personal data protection subcommittee of the Quality of Life Council, an advisory panel to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, the officials said.

At the meeting, officials from government agencies reported on measures taken to enforce the personal data protection law, which governs largely computerized personal data protection by private businesses, they said. The law took effect April 1.

Of the 405 cases, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry received the largest number of leakage reports at 220, followed by the Financial Services Agency, with 122, and the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry, with 33, they said.

By magnitude, 11 leaks involved data pertaining to 51,000 people or more.

There were also 291 cases of leaks affecting 500 people or less, they said.

FSA officials said the agency will shortly collate the results of in-house inspections by the nation's financial institutions.

In addition, the agency said it has ordered Aomori-based Michinoku Bank to enhance its in-house data management policies following the bank's loss of a CD-ROM containing 1.28 million cases of personal data.

METI officials reported on the measures they have taken in the wake of the massive leak of credit card data in the United States.