Deep In Tech #2 - Japan’s Secret Plan to Win Semiconductors
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Aug 13, 2025 Japan is making a massive $67 billion investment to reclaim its former glory in the semiconductor industry. They’re betting on a promising company called Rapidus and developing advanced 2nm CPUs. The country is also exploring the use of synthetic diamonds to innovate beyond traditional silicon. This ambitious initiative not only aims to revolutionize Japan's tech landscape but could also reshape the global semiconductor market.
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Host's Decade Designing Chips
- Anastasi spent a decade designing chips and worked with Japanese teams, giving him insider perspective.
- That background fuels his excitement about Japan's semiconductor comeback.
CMOS Bet Fueled Japan's 1980s Lead
- Japan's early bet on CMOS paid off and propelled it to memory dominance in the 1980s.
- That strategic platform choice created long-term industry leadership until global competitors adapted faster.
Vertical Integration Slowed Japan's Pace
- Japan's all-in approach (design, manufacturing, packaging) became a liability as the industry specialized.
- Specialization by firms like TSMC allowed faster scaling and overtook integrated players.