Tech

A growing number of Japanese companies are preparing to scale back hiring of new university graduates for 2027, as productivity gains from generative artificial intelligence begin to reshape long-term workforce planning, according to the latest industry survey. The findings point to a gradual but significant shift in corporate recruitment strategies in Japan, where firms have traditionally maintained stable pipelines of graduate hiring as part of a lifelong employment model. However, the rapid adoption of AI tools across administrative, customer service and analytical tasks is now prompting a reassessment of staffing needs. Executives cited in the survey suggest that generative AI…

The CEO of Rapidus, Atsuyoshi Koike, has presented a proposal that redefines the limits of Japanese industrial policy by suggesting the possibility of moving high-end chip manufacturing to the lunar surface in the near future. Far from being mere speculation, this vision is part of an ambitious national strategy to reclaim technological leadership through radical innovation and the robust support of Prime Minister Takaichi’s administration. The project seeks not only to compete with current industry giants but also to establish the foundations for an extraterrestrial industrial infrastructure that ensures Japanese hegemony in the coming decades. The company has already reached…

A consortium of four Tokyu Group companies has announced a pioneering trial to install modular data centers beneath elevated sections of the Tokyo Metro. Scheduled to begin in June 2026 along the Oimachi Line, this initiative represents a strategic attempt to repurpose underutilized urban space to meet the soaring demand for digital infrastructure. By testing the reliability of server facilities in active railway environments, Japan is exploring innovative solutions to the chronic shortage of land and power availability that currently plagues the central Tokyo market. The move comes at a critical juncture for the Japanese capital, where the data center…

TSMC’s announcement to launch 3-nanometer chip production in Japan by 2028 marks a transformative milestone for the nation’s high-tech landscape. This advanced manufacturing capability, slated for its second facility in Kumamoto, represents a significant leap from current industry standards. By anchoring its most sophisticated nodes on Japanese soil, the Taiwanese giant is not only expanding its global footprint but also sealing a strategic alliance that places Tokyo at the forefront of the global silicon race. This move is specifically designed to meet the surging demand from the next generations of artificial intelligence, automotive engineering, and robotics. As Japan’s flagship sectors—led…

In a significant move for the future of urban mobility, Nissan, Uber, and the British AI specialist Wayve have announced a strategic trilateral partnership to launch robotaxi trials in Tokyo by the latter half of 2026. This collaboration marks a high-stakes entry into the autonomous vehicle (AV) market, combining Japan’s automotive heritage with Silicon Valley’s platform dominance and London’s cutting-edge "embodied AI" technology. By transforming the Nissan Leaf into a self-driving service accessible via the Uber app, the project positions Tokyo as a premier global laboratory for the transition toward a driverless society. The partnership represents a sophisticated integration of…