Japan’s technology news in January 2024 covered a range of techs, implementations, issues and achievements, including: TSMC’s first Japan semiconductor manufacturing facility; Japanese investment in Italy’s space debris removal technology; robotics in Japan’s agricultural sector; partnership between Japan, South Korea and the United States on quantum technologies; and more.
SNA’s other editions: Asia’s tech news, daily (via LinkedIn, Facebook & Twitter/X); and our Indo-Pacific technology newsletters, weekly.
Also available:
Critical technologies, quarterly across Q4 2023
PwC: Findings from the 2024 Digital Trust Insights Survey
- Japan: Telecoms industry sets sights on solar-powered airborne 5G mobile base stations by 2025 to provide mobile services, operating at 11-15 miles altitude and with expected coverage of 200km
- Japan: Taiwan’s TSMC to formally open its first Japan semiconductor facility in February, set to produce chips at 28nm scale to cater to auto and consumer electronics sectors
“These technologies are expected to remain relevant for an extended period, given the long lifecycle of many integrated circuits (ICs). TSMC now plans to host a formal opening ceremony on February 24 and the fab will start producing chips in the second half of 2024, as planned. It is rumored that eventually, TSMC will build another fab in Japan…”
- Japan: Toshiba and Rohm semiconductor firm join for gov’t-supported $2.7BN development and manufacture of power devices, dovetailing with moves towards tech self-sufficiency
- Japan: Mercari, major e-commerce platform, to accept Bitcoin from June, adding to other crypto-focused offerings including Mercari Bitcoin trading service
- Japan’s Bellsystem24 and Taiwan’s Intumit partner for generative AI-backed call center chatbots, looking to launch in Taiwan this year
Microsoft: New Future Of Work Report 2023
- Japan’s Marubeni conglomerate backs Italy’s D-Orbit space logistics firm in $100M funding round to further develop in-orbit servicing, transport and debris cleaning
- Japan: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries-built satellite enters orbit primarily to gather national security intelligence, but with remit to also monitor the scope of major natural disasters
‘With Japan facing a significant labor shortage on the horizon, many industries including the agricultural and manufacturing sectors are hoping robots will be a high-tech game changer‘
- An intro to Japan’s EX-Fusion, working on ground-based laser systems to destroy space junk, building on 2023 partnership with Australia’s EOS Space Systems for debris detection and laser test site
- Japan gov’t to revise social media legislation requiring swifter content deletion for derogatory and defamatory posts, mandating shorter times for response and details of outcome
CSIS: NATO’s role in protecting critical undersea infrastructure
- Japan’s SLIM moon lander enters lower lunar orbit in preparation for January 19th landing attempt – livestream takes place via
- University of Tokyo, Seoul Nat’l University and University of Chicago have entered into a trilateral technology partnership to train a quantum-focused workforce and strengthen collective competitiveness
“At Camp David, the leaders of the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea committed to demonstrate to the people of our respective nations the tangible benefits of trilateral cooperation. Today’s signing is one more step towards fulfilling this collective commitment. It also follows the December signing of a Trilateral Framework encouraging scientific cooperation among our national laboratories.”
- Japan: $100M XKSK Fund is in development, looking to back around 30 startups
- Japan’s ‘Smart Lander for Investigating Moon’ successfully achieved landing, but overall mission now uncertain due to problems with solar panels
- Japan: An overview of the inroads made by China’s robotics firms into Japan’s logistics sector
World Economic Forum Quantum Economy Blueprint – January 2024
- Japan: An intro to Hyundai’s Mobion concept vehicle, featuring new wheel system allowing vehicles to move in any direction, including sideways
- ICYMI: Vietnam’s VinCSS and Japan’s VicOne, Trend Micro subsidiary, partnered on auto cybersecurity, focusing on vulnerabilities in smart car electronic control units as use of open-source software rises
“Keeping vehicle data and identification safe from cyberattack is an important shared interest with VinCSS. Through our vulnerability and management system, we expect to improve efficiencies and provide vehicle security beyond vulnerabilities,” Tsai said.
“As VinCSS and VicOne unite, the automotive cybersecurity landscape is poised for a transformative journey towards safety, innovation, and excellence.”
“VicOne, an automotive cybersecurity solutions provider, is at the forefront of developing solutions for automotive cybersecurity.”
- Taiwan announces plans for first lunar mission, with Deep Space Radiation Probe potentially to launch in Q4 aboard Japanese lander
- Available to download: ‘The Quad and Submarine Cable Protection in the Indo-Pacific – Policy Recommendations’ from the Stockholm-based Institute for Security & Development Policy
- A brief overview of Indo-Pacific space-technology developments, and rising concerns, from Nikkei Asia
Orbiting Now / Satellite orbit data
Indo-Pacific Tech news: Daily
- Indo-Pacific tech, daily on LinkedIn
- Asia’s tech news, daily on Twitter / X
- Asia tech news daily – Facebook
Note: Our mobile app is offline due to the ongoing breakdown of Twitter/X. The app will be back, much-improved and with broader functionality, late in Q1 of 2024.
KPMG / GSA: 2024 Global Semiconductor Industry Outlook
Weekly Asia Tech newsletters
In the January 23rd newsletter:
South Korea’s semicon mega-development,
India-Argentina lithium mining,
Singtel adds Starlink for maritime use,
India’s quantum technology moves,
Huawei adds Changan and JD for OS growth,
Google backs Pacific Connect undersea cable…
● January 23rd newsletter on LinkedIn
● January 23rd newsletter on Substack
