Japan reveals the full picture of its Rapidus investment scheme: becoming top shareholder with just 10% voting rights, holding golden shares with veto power, and a mechanism to seize majority control if finances deteriorate. We compare Japan's $19B commitment with the US CHIPS Act and EU Chips Act, and examine whether Rapidus can realistically mass-produce 2nm chips by 2027.
Hitachi and Tokyo Institute of Science have achieved a 280x improvement in coherence time and 99.1% gate fidelity using ordinary silicon — no special isotopes needed. Unlike IBM and Google's superconducting approach, Hitachi's silicon-based quantum computer leverages existing chip-making infrastructure. With cloud access planned for 2027, Japan is carving its own path in the global quantum race.
The explosive growth of AI data centers is creating a golden age for power electronics. With tens of thousands of GPUs fluctuating power equivalent to a nuclear plant by over 50%, Japanese makers like Mitsubishi Electric, Fuji Electric, and Toshiba see a massive opportunity. Includes US and Europe comparisons.
Kyoto Institute of Technology and Chuo University have developed a cooling-free infrared sensor using semiconductor carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with 11x greater sensitivity than conventional materials. Building on Japan's legacy in CNT research since their 1991 discovery at NEC, this breakthrough could transform autonomous driving, security screening, and medical imaging. Here's what it means and how Japan is reacting.
As AI's explosive growth makes chip power consumption a critical global issue, Japan's next-generation chip technologies are drawing worldwide attention. Tohoku University's MRAM memory reduces power consumption to 1/100th of conventional chips, while Saga University's diamond semiconductors — called the "ultimate semiconductor material" — advance toward space and 6G applications. We report on Japan's technological edge and the intensifying competition with the US and China.
China's Commerce Ministry banned dual-use exports to 20 Japanese defense entities including Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and JAXA, while adding 20 more firms like Subaru and TDK to a watch list. Seen as retaliation for PM Takaichi's Taiwan contingency remarks, the move threatens rare earth and semiconductor material supply chains. Japan demands withdrawal as US-China decoupling ripples through East Asian geopolitics.
A comprehensive breakdown of Japan PM Takaichi's 17 strategic investment fields from her landmark policy speech. Covering AI/semiconductors, fusion energy, content industries, defense and more — with key players, current challenges, and the $48B government investment plan.
Canon is launching its first new KrF lithography system in 14 years, boosting throughput by 30% to challenge ASML's dominance. With a global NAND shortage creating opportunity and a $330 million factory expansion underway, Canon's multi-front strategy, including nanoimprint lithography and ArF dry re-entry, signals Japan's semiconductor equipment counterattack.
Rapidus CEO Atsuyoshi Koike unveiled the world's first 600mm square glass substrate RDL interposer at SEMICON Japan 2025. With 10x production efficiency over conventional 300mm wafers, the technology targets AI chip cost reduction. A detailed comparison with TSMC's CoWoS and Intel's Foveros, plus Rapidus's 2028 mass production roadmap for Japan's semiconductor packaging strategy.
The "joints" (actuators) that humanoid robots need over 50 of per unit are the key to industry dominance. These critical components account for up to 60% of manufacturing costs, and two Japanese companies, Harmonic Drive Systems and Nabtesco, dominate the high-precision reducer market, each leading its own reducer type. As the market grows at 80% annually and mega-corporations from the US, China, and Korea enter the race, can Japan defend its "joint hegemony"?
Japan is executing its largest postwar industrial policy shift, committing over ¥10 trillion to semiconductors, achieving its 2% GDP defense target two years early (¥11T), and issuing ¥20 trillion in green transition bonds. From Rapidus's audacious 2nm chip bet to 29 niche companies with dominant global market shares, we break down the full picture — including fierce domestic debate and international reactions. What industries does your country treat as "national strategy"?
Western Digital (WD) unveiled its roadmap to 100TB+ HDDs by 2029 at Innovation Day 2026. With HAMR technology for capacity and High Bandwidth Drive plus Dual Pivot tech for performance, WD aims to close the gap with SSDs. Here's what this means for the HDD vs SSD battle in the AI era.
Japan's Kioxia is set for consecutive record-breaking years, with revenue exceeding $14 billion for the first time. NAND production capacity for 2026 is already "sold out" as AI data center demand far outpaces supply. From a rocky IPO to the world's best-performing stock of 2025 with a 540% gain, we explore Kioxia's remarkable turnaround and what it means for Japan's semiconductor renaissance.
Fujitsu begins domestic manufacturing of sovereign AI servers in March 2026 at its Ishikawa factory. With NVIDIA's latest GPUs and its own MONAKA processor, Japan reinforces digital sovereignty amid rising geopolitical AI infrastructure concerns.
Japan's Rapidus targets full-scale 2nm chip production by FY2028 in Hokkaido. From prototype success to mass production roadmap, TSMC & Samsung competition, $19 billion in government support, and Japan's semiconductor revival strategy: a comprehensive report.
Honda invests in U.S. startup Mythic to co-develop a neuromorphic SoC inspired by the human brain. By combining analog compute-in-memory technology with Honda's AI expertise, this brain-like chip achieves both massive power savings and high AI performance—potentially transforming autonomous driving for next-generation software-defined vehicles.
TSMC upgrades its Kumamoto Fab 2 from 7nm to cutting-edge 3nm production, targeting mass production by 2028 with $17 billion investment. CEO C.C. Wei personally briefed Japan's PM Takaichi on the plan. We analyze what this means for Japan's semiconductor revival, AI infrastructure, and global chip supply chain diversification.
Ibiden, the dominant supplier of IC package substrates to NVIDIA and Intel, has announced a massive $3.2 billion investment plan over three years to boost production capacity 2.5x. Discover how this Japanese manufacturer in Gifu Prefecture is positioning itself as the backbone of the global AI infrastructure boom.
As TSMC exits GaN foundry services, Japan's Rohm acquires TSMC's technology license to manufacture 650V GaN power semiconductors in-house at its Hamamatsu factory. A deep dive into the next-generation power chips reshaping the AI and EV era.
Japan's semiconductor giant Renesas Electronics reported a ¥51.7 billion net loss for FY2025—its first red ink in six years. Triggered by Wolfspeed's bankruptcy causing a $1.6 billion write-down, sluggish automotive demand, and a slow pivot to AI chips, the results raise questions about Japan's semiconductor strategy. We analyze what went wrong and what comes next.