# Episode 124: The State of The Japanese Semiconductor Industry

- Show: [The Circuit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit)
- Published: 2025-07-01
- Length: 43m
- Episode: 125
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2025-07-01-episode-124-the-state-of-the-japanese-semiconductor-industry
- Listen: https://share.transistor.fm/s/f4a54990

## Summary

Professor John Metzler from UC Berkeley discusses the state of the Japanese semiconductor industry following recent trips to Japan, focusing on the construction of the Rapidus fab in Hokkaido and the operational TSMC facility in Kumamoto. He analyzes Rapidus's unique business model as a flexible logic foundry betting on GAA technology, while highlighting significant challenges in talent acquisition and the broader shift toward silicon photonics. The conversation also covers the role of Japanese government agencies like METI and the strategic positioning of companies such as Sony, Tokyo Electron, and Renesas in the global supply chain.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2025-07-01-episode-124-the-state-of-the-japanese-semiconductor-industry#t=7) Introduction and Trip Overview
- [5:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2025-07-01-episode-124-the-state-of-the-japanese-semiconductor-industry#t=341) TSMC Kumoto and Site Selection Logic
- [9:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2025-07-01-episode-124-the-state-of-the-japanese-semiconductor-industry#t=550) Rapidus Construction and Business Model
- [19:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2025-07-01-episode-124-the-state-of-the-japanese-semiconductor-industry#t=1153) Talent Acquisition and Hiring Challenges
- [26:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2025-07-01-episode-124-the-state-of-the-japanese-semiconductor-industry#t=1585) Global Talent Pool and US Education
- [33:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2025-07-01-episode-124-the-state-of-the-japanese-semiconductor-industry#t=1984) Japanese Industry Landscape and Photonics

## Topics

- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Rapidus (company)
- TSMC (company)
- Sony (company)
- Tokyo Electron (company)
- Renesas (company)
- NTT (company)
- Intel (company)
- METI (company)
- UC Berkeley (company)
- IBM (company)
- Samsung (company)
- GlobalFoundries (company)
- Foxconn (company)
- BYD (company)
- Tesla (company)
- Kajima (company)
- Saconda (company)
- Edge Cortex (company)
- Fujitsu (company)
- NVIDIA (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Unpacking Semiconductor Packaging: Insights with Jan Vardaman](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2024-04-23-unpacking-semiconductor-packaging-insights-with-jan-vardaman) (OnTrack)
- [I’m the CHIPS bill / Stuck on Capitol Hill…](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2022-02-04-im-the-chips-bill-stuck-on-capitol-hill) (EE Times Current)
- [ON Semi’s Acquisition | TSMC’s Finer Nodes | Tesla’s AI Chip | China’s Fabless Companies](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2019-04-26-on-semis-acquisition-tsmcs-finer-nodes-teslas-ai-chip-chinas-fabless-companies) (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)
- [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)

## Citing this page

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