# Episode 45: The Japanese Semiconductor Industry

- Show: [The Circuit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit)
- Published: 2023-12-05
- Length: 39m
- Episode: 47
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2023-12-05-episode-45-the-japanese-semiconductor-industry
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/8d8e6886

## Summary

Professor John Metzler of UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business discusses the revitalization of the Japanese semiconductor industry, highlighting key players like Tokyo Electron, Renesas, Sony, and Morata, as well as the Rapidus consortium. He explains that while the industry declined in the 1990s due to US trade friction and the rise of foundries, Japan is now leveraging its niche strengths in materials and equipment to re-emerge as a critical supply chain partner. The conversation also covers the government-facilitated Rapidus project in Hokkaido and the strategic collaboration between the US and Japan, exemplified by Minister Nishimura’s visit to UC Berkeley.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2023-12-05-episode-45-the-japanese-semiconductor-industry#t=6) Introduction: John Metzler and the Japanese Semiconductor Industry
- [3:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2023-12-05-episode-45-the-japanese-semiconductor-industry#t=205) History of Japan's Semi Industry and the 1990s Decline
- [7:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2023-12-05-episode-45-the-japanese-semiconductor-industry#t=448) Japan's Macro Economy, Aging Population, and Talent Pipeline
- [11:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2023-12-05-episode-45-the-japanese-semiconductor-industry#t=689) Key Japanese Companies: Tokyo Electron, Renesas, Sony, and Morata
- [20:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2023-12-05-episode-45-the-japanese-semiconductor-industry#t=1253) Rapidus Consortium and the Push for 2nm Fabrication
- [25:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2023-12-05-episode-45-the-japanese-semiconductor-industry#t=1514) Minister Nishimura’s Visit to UC Berkeley and US-Japan Collaboration

## Topics

- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- Tokyo Electron (company)
- Renesas (company)
- Sony (company)
- Morata (company)
- Rapidus (company)
- ASML (company)
- TSMC (company)
- Qualcomm (company)
- JSR (company)
- JICU (company)
- Kyocera (company)
- SK Hynix (company)
- Toshiba (company)
- Kioxia (company)
- Sharp (company)
- Foxconn (company)
- AMD (company)
- Intel (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [The Prognosis is Actually Pretty Good](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2021-10-15-the-prognosis-is-actually-pretty-good) (EE Times Current)
- [For a couple weeks there...](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2023-11-28-for-a-couple-weeks-there) (The Amp Hour)
- [China’s $28B Big Fund | The Cockiest Startup | Sony’s Ambitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2019-11-22-chinas-28b-big-fund-the-cockiest-startup-sonys-ambitions) (EE Times Current)
- [State of the Industry: Semiconductor Insiders Discuss the Ambitions and Realities of the CHIPS Act](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2024-03-12-state-of-the-industry-semiconductor-insiders-discuss-the-ambitions-and-realities) (Moore's Lobby)
- [Histogrammic or Histomagraphical](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-02-21-histogrammic-or-histomagraphical) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2023-12-05-episode-45-the-japanese-semiconductor-industry. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to The Circuit.