TSMC’s new Kumamoto, Japan plant will begin commercial production by the end of 2024, with Sony and Denso as initial customers. This $13.5 billion investment, supported by significant Japanese government funding, will produce advanced chips, solidifying Japan’s position in the semiconductor industry. A second plant is planned, further expanding TSMC’s global presence and creating investment opportunities.
South Korean airlines dominate the South Korea-Japan air travel market, controlling 92% of the 1.3 million December 2024 seats. The Korean Air and Asiana Airlines merger will further consolidate this dominance, leaving Japanese carriers with limited capacity. Competition is mainly confined to a few key routes, but the overall trend shows growing centralization of capacity in South Korean hands.
TSMC is establishing its first Japanese wafer fabrication plant in Kumamoto, set to begin mass production before the end of 2024. This significant investment will supply chips to Sony and Denso, initially focusing on 22nm and 28nm nodes, with plans to expand to 6nm and 7nm in the future. The project, supported by the Japanese government, aims to revitalize Japan’s semiconductor industry and strengthen its supply chain. This development reflects the global demand for semiconductors driven by the electric vehicle and AI industries.
Waymo is expanding internationally for the first time, bringing its robotaxis to Tokyo, Japan early next year. Partnering with Nihon Kotsu and GO, the company will initially map key areas of Tokyo before launching a paid robotaxi pilot program. This expansion addresses Japan’s taxi driver shortage and allows Waymo to adapt its technology to left-hand traffic and a dense urban environment.
Tokyo is implementing a four-day workweek starting April 2025 to combat its declining birth rate and boost tourism. The initiative, coupled with flexible working hours for parents, aims to improve work-life balance and encourage families to have more children. This policy is expected to benefit the tourism sector by increasing domestic travel and regional economic development.
Space One, a Japanese company, is attempting its second rocket launch this Saturday after a spectacular mid-air explosion in March. This time, carrying five satellites, success would mark a significant step towards establishing a competitive private satellite launch service in Japan.
IHG Hotels & Resorts unveils Hotel Indigo Nagasaki Glover Street, the fifth in Japan and first in Kyushu. This stunning hotel, housed in a renovated 19th-century building, seamlessly blends Nagasaki’s rich cultural heritage with contemporary elegance, offering guests a unique and immersive experience.
Japan’s revised drug laws, effective Thursday, criminalize cannabis use, carrying a penalty of up to seven years in prison. This comes amidst a surge in cannabis-related arrests, particularly among young people, and aims to strengthen drug control while allowing for regulated medical cannabis products.
Coincheck, one of Japan’s leading cryptocurrency exchanges, has officially joined the Nasdaq stock exchange following a successful merger with Thunder Bridge Capital Partners IV. This landmark event marks Coincheck as only the second publicly traded cryptocurrency exchange on Nasdaq, signifying a major step for the global crypto market.
Tokyo is set to implement a groundbreaking four-day work week for its government employees starting in 2025, aiming to address Japan’s declining birth rate and promote a healthier work-life balance. This policy, coupled with flexible work arrangements for parents, signals a significant shift in Japan’s work culture and could serve as a global model.
