Analysis of mitochondrial DNA suggests that the ancestors of this subspecies came to Japan from the Korean Peninsula via Tsushima Island.

[5] Beekeepers in Japan attempted to introduce western honeybees (Apis mellifera) for the sake of their high productivity.

When threatened by hornets or other competing honeybees, A. c. japonica will dance and smear plant material at the entrance of the hive.

Although a handful of Asian giant hornets can easily defeat the uncoordinated defenses of a honey bee colony, the Japanese honeybee (Apis cerana japonica) has an effective strategy.

[6] As a hornet enters the hive, a mob of hundreds of honey bees surrounds it in a ball, completely covering it and preventing it from reacting effectively.

At that concentration of CO2, the honey bees can tolerate up to 50 °C (122 °F), but the hornet cannot survive the combination of a temperature of 46 °C (115 °F) and high carbon dioxide level.

If the wasp enters the nest the bees will increase their wing movement, form a ball and raise their body temperature.