Sharp's iconic Sakai LCD factory, once the symbol of "LCD Sharp," is being transformed into one of Asia's largest AI data centers by KDDI and SoftBank. By repurposing the massive power and cooling infrastructure from the ¥430 billion facility, they brought a cutting-edge AI hub online in under a year, a powerful symbol of Japan's industrial transformation in the AI era.
Porsche's 2025 global deliveries fell 10% to 279,449 units while electrified vehicle ratio expanded to 34.4%. Analysis of China's 26% decline, 911's record-breaking year, and the "value over volume" strategy ahead.
Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation and Taiwan's Hon Hai Precision Industry (Foxconn) have officially agreed to establish a joint venture for EV bus production in Japan. Scheduled for launch in late 2026, the company will manufacture electric buses based on Foxconn's Model T and Model U at Mitsubishi Fuso's Toyama factory, challenging BYD's dominant 60% market share in Japan's EV bus sector.
As economic security concerns intensify, Japan is launching major initiatives to strengthen its semiconductor supply chain through cross-company information sharing platforms and specification standardization. Explore the latest developments including the MUFG-NTT Data platform initiative and the government's 10 trillion yen support framework.
A comprehensive guide to next-gen AI chips announced at CES 2026: NVIDIA's Vera Rubin, AMD's Instinct MI500/Ryzen AI 400, and Intel's Core Ultra 300 Panther Lake. Compare performance specs and understand how the AI semiconductor battle is reshaping data centers and consumer PCs.
A unique ponzu vinegar vending machine in Osaka's Tsuruhashi district offers a bold "money back if you don't like it" guarantee. Created by a former banker turned fugu chef, this innovative business repurposes old sake shop machines to sell handcrafted citrus-soy sauce 24/7, representing the adventurous spirit of Japanese vending machine culture.
Sotetsu Bus and NTT Docomo Business launch an autonomous bus trial in Yokohama using local 5G and road-vehicle coordination technology. The project aims to achieve stable operation even on narrow roads and in congested areas, with commercial deployment targeted for 2027.
Kyoto University startup FLOSFIA achieves mass production technology for 4-inch gallium oxide (Ga2O3) power semiconductor wafers at 1/50th the cost of SiC. With a Baliga figure of merit 7,000 times higher than silicon, this Japanese-origin material is poised to revolutionize EV and renewable energy markets.
Japan commits over ¥10 trillion ($65 billion) to semiconductor revival by 2030. Explore Rapidus's 2nm production goals, equipment & materials strengths, and global competition in this comprehensive analysis of Japan's "Crisis Management Investment" strategy.
Japanese space startup ispace has been selected for JAXA's Space Strategy Fund, securing up to $130 million to develop Mission 6 targeting a 2029 lunar south pole landing. The mission will tackle precision landing, extended surface operations, and communication relay satellite deployment, positioning Japan in the global race for lunar water resources.
Japan's major banks including SMBC and MUFG are lending $1.5 billion to Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Finance. This unprecedented loan targets water desalination and power infrastructure, opening doors for Japanese companies to participate in Vision 2030 megaprojects.
