In recent years, Japan has been constantly conducting semiconductor layout. In Kumamoto, it launched the JASM crystal plant and Rapidus has made every effort to develop advanced processes in Hokkaido. Focusing on Taiwan’s semiconductor system For 20 years, Professor Cheng Nai-ho, Waseda University, used Japanese perspectives to analyze the changes and opportunities brought by Taiwan-Japan semiconductor cooperation.
Before entering the academic world, Chang Naihou, a professor of business management research at Waseda University, left a deep impression on Taiwan's semiconductor industry.
In 2005, he was still a Sony-owned senior who was responsible for television industry. He visited Hsinchu Science Park in order to conduct academic investigations and study Taiwan's unique industrial settlement model, as well as Taiwan's large semiconductor factory Taiwan power plant. He was only 30 years old that year and was quite unfamiliar with semiconductors. He only knew that "many Japanese electronics industries rely heavily on Taiwan's semiconductor industries."
In the subsequent trip to Taiwan, Chang Neehou visited the Taiwan Electric Innovation Museum due to his international conference, and deeply understood the advancement of Taiwan Electric's founder Zhang Zhong, who emphasized "crystalline OEM", and has developed a strong interest in the chips that must be prepared for all household appliances and information products. This enthusiasm even led him to the academic world and has now become a research authority for Japanese semiconductor industry. Recently, it published the book "Semi-Conductor Reversal War" to try to explain how Japan has transformed its many years of semiconductor manufacturing funds.
In mid-June, Chang Naihou should invite him to attend the "2025 Taiwan Great Future" peak forum and give a special lecture on the topic of "Analysis of the Taiwan-Japan-US semiconductor competition". Before the meeting, he took the time to accept an interview from "This Weekly" to deeply analyze the opportunities and challenges of the future development of semiconductor industries in Taiwan and Japan, as well as the existing competitive relationships that have existed under the "Taiwan-Japan Friendship" relationship.
Having been the long-term development of Japanese targeted enterprises, it was clear that Taiwan and Japan have chosen two completely different paths in their industrial development paths over the past 20 years.
"I have noticed that many Taiwanese innovations are difficult to copy into Japan." Long Nai-Hou said sharp views in gentle language.
In his eyes, Japan has made semiconductor materials and equipment the world's first by implementing "technology first". In response to Taiwan, the crystal foundry industry led by Taiwan Electric is "turning technology into real economic value". It is difficult to determine which side is better or worse. However, it cannot be denied that JASM, now directed by Taiwan Electric, has become the core and hope of Japan's revival semiconductor manufacturing.
In fact, Japan and Taiwan have had a huge difference in their views on semiconductors since their early years.
Li Shi-hung, a specialist professor at the School of International Affairs of the University of Political Science, said that the two parties have different understandings and are related to the previous global leading position of Japanese home appliance products. "At that time, semiconductors were mostly used in home appliances and consumer electronics. For companies such as NEC, Dongzhi and Sharp, semiconductors were just one of their departments."
As an internal member of the company, Japan's semiconductor manufacturing naturally focuses on serving its own products. "But later, Japan's home appliances were gradually replaced by South Korea and China. The semiconductor departments of these companies quickly shrank because they did not have external customers." Li Shixiu pointed out that when Taiwan and South Korea took root in the crystalline OEM industry, Japan's competitiveness was not as good as before because it did not focus on the semiconductor industry.
Japan semiconductor industry is just a department within a large company, not an independent profit business, which also makes "innovation" more difficult.