For years, a quantum computer meant a golden "chandelier" hanging from a ceiling. That machine may end up sitting on a desk. The route there runs through a semiconductor-based approach, and a Japanese startup has just put a working one on a trade show floor.

Japan Unveils Its First Domestic Semiconductor Quantum Computer

At SEMICON Japan 2025, held December 17-19 at Tokyo Big Sight, Japanese startup blueqat exhibited in the quantum computing pavilion what it billed as Japan's first domestically developed semiconductor quantum computer.

The machine on display fits within two standard server racks, a stark contrast to the iconic golden "chandeliers" hanging from ceilings at major quantum labs worldwide. This compact design could seamlessly integrate into existing data centers, marking a significant step toward practical quantum computing infrastructure.

Why Semiconductor-Based Quantum Computing Matters

The quantum computing field features several competing approaches: superconducting, ion trap, photonic, and neutral atom methods. Semiconductor-based quantum computing stands out for its compatibility with existing chip manufacturing infrastructure.

Key advantages of the semiconductor approach include:

  • Leveraging existing technology: Quantum bits can be created using techniques similar to standard silicon semiconductors
  • Scalability: Miniaturization technologies can be applied to increase qubit counts and reduce size
  • Single-chip integration: The quantum processing unit (QPU), CPU, and GPU can potentially be combined into a single System-on-Chip (SoC)
  • Relaxed temperature requirements: Superconducting systems need temperatures near 0.01 Kelvin; the single-chip SoC the approach is aiming at is expected to run at 1-3 Kelvin, which makes the cooling hardware easier to shrink

The semiconductor approach confines electrons in silicon, applies an external magnetic field, and controls electron spin to use them as quantum dots. The machine on show pairs single-electron transistors with off-the-shelf medical cryogenic equipment; it runs at 0.3 Kelvin and generates single-digit qubit counts. The 1-3 Kelvin figure belongs to the roadmap, not to this box.

The Road to One Million Qubits by 2030

Blueqat has set a goal of one million qubits by 2030. It frames 2026 as the opening of the mass-production era, and says it intends to turn quantum computers from "laboratory art pieces" into "data centre workhorses."

Overseas, desktop-sized semiconductor quantum computers already exist. Ireland's Equal1 and its Bell-1 are the reference point; blueqat's own panels presented it as the world's first commercial semiconductor quantum computer. Blueqat has similar miniaturisation in its sights. While the current prototype prioritizes performance over size, the company emphasizes that the true strength of semiconductor-based quantum computing lies in "miniaturization combined with high integration."

Japan's Quantum Computing Progress

Japan has made steady advances in quantum computing development:

  • March 2023: A joint team led by RIKEN unveiled Japan's first domestic quantum computer (64 superconducting qubits)
  • October 2023: Fujitsu and RIKEN built Japan's second domestic machine
  • December 2023: A third machine went live at Osaka University
  • April 2025: Fujitsu and RIKEN developed a 256-qubit superconducting machine, described by Fujitsu as among the largest superconducting systems available to external users
  • July 28, 2025: Osaka University's QIQB and partners brought online a "purely domestic" machine, with every major component and piece of software made in Japan

Fujitsu is targeting a 1,000-qubit machine in fiscal 2026 and more than 10,000 physical qubits by fiscal 2030.

The Japanese government has designated 2025 as the "Year of Quantum Industrialization," significantly boosting research and development support. Notably, 2025 also marks the 100th anniversary of Werner Heisenberg's foundational work in quantum mechanics, with the United Nations declaring it the "International Year of Quantum Science and Technology."

A Market Projected to Reach $620 Billion by 2040

A report cited by blueqat puts the quantum computing market at up to ¥93 trillion (roughly $620 billion) by 2040. Applications span drug discovery, financial modeling, logistics optimization, and materials development.

Semiconductor-based systems offer particular advantages in manufacturing cost reduction and mass production potential, potentially accelerating quantum computing adoption across industries.

Competition and Collaboration on the Global Stage

While Japan's quantum technology investment trails that of the United States and China in absolute terms, its industry-academia collaboration model has produced consistent results. Challenges remain, however: increased private sector investment, talent development, and strengthened international partnerships are essential.

Quantum technology has also become a subject of science and technology diplomacy. No single nation is going to industrialise quantum computing on its own; cooperation among allied countries is part of the plan.

What's the state of quantum computing development in your country? Are there notable companies or research institutions making strides? We'd love to hear your perspective!

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