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Japan: technology profile

Japan pairs an AI law focused on promoting research and use with state-backed funding for Rapidus and its 2nm chips, a large industrial robot market and JAXA missions. Its 2026 AI plan stresses physical AI.

Researched and fact-checked by AI, with no human review. 17 sources listed below. How we verify

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AI

Japan's AI promotion law was enacted on May 28, 2025 and took full effect on September 1, 2025. The government calls it the AI Act. It creates an AI Strategic Headquarters chaired by the Prime Minister and requires an AI Basic Plan. The government's outline frames it as promoting innovation while mitigating risks. It lists information gathering, investigation of rights infringements, and guidance and advice as its tools. It says businesses shall endeavor to cooperate.

The Cabinet adopted the first AI Basic Plan on December 23, 2025 and a second plan on July 14, 2026. The second plan responds to agentic AI, meaning systems that can decide on tasks and carry them out. Its four pillars cover AI adoption, development, trustworthiness and collaboration. It calls for open "AI sovereignty". It emphasizes vertical AI (sector-specific systems) and physical AI (AI in robots and vehicles). It proposes strengthening the AI Safety Institute (AISI), convening an AI summit in Japan, and updating the plan annually.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said on November 11, 2024 that the AI and semiconductor industries would get more than 10 trillion yen in public support by fiscal year 2030. He said the government would also aim to attract more than 50 trillion yen in public and private investment over 10 years. That is a pledge, not a record of spending.

Chips and hardware

Rapidus, founded in August 2022, is the government-backed company developing 2-nanometer logic chips at its IIM-1 plant in Chitose, Hokkaido. Rapidus says its pilot line began operating in April 2025. It says it has verified the operation of 2nm gate-all-around transistors and targets mass production in 2027. In June 2026 it reported a 150 billion yen investment from the Information-technology Promotion Agency (IPA), an agency under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). That followed 100 billion yen from the IPA and 167.6 billion yen that Rapidus describes as private-sector funding from 32 companies. It took Rapidus's capital to 424.95 billion yen.

TSMC said in February 2024 that JASM, its majority-owned subsidiary in Kumamoto, would add a second fab scheduled to begin operation by the end of 2027, with Japanese government support. TSMC has since revised the plan. In April 2026, Chairman C.C. Wei said the second fab will use the 3-nanometer process, with commercial production scheduled to begin in 2028.

Robots and autonomy

The second AI Basic Plan says Japan will use its strengths in industrial robotics and automotive supply chains to build up domestic makers of multi-purpose robots. It calls for faster deployment of next-generation autonomous driving. Japan installed 36,219 industrial robots in 2025, down 19%, the International Federation of Robotics reported in September 2026. It said Japan fell from second- to third-largest market, behind China and the United States. In a joint statement released on October 5, 2026, Japan and the United States committed to more collaboration on physical AI. The text calls it physical "super intelligence".

Space

NASA records that the SLIM lander of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) landed on the Moon on January 19, 2024, US Eastern time. NASA says that made Japan the fifth nation to complete a soft landing there. Under an April 2024 agreement, Japan is to design, develop and operate a pressurized lunar rover. Under it, NASA is to give Japanese astronauts two chances to reach the lunar surface. JAXA's MMX mission aims to return a sample from the Martian moon Phobos. It is scheduled to launch on an H3 rocket on October 20, 2026, with a backup window running to November 7, JAXA said in August 2026.

Energy technology

The Cabinet approved the Seventh Strategic Energy Plan on February 18, 2025. It aligns with a target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions 73% by fiscal 2040 from fiscal 2013 levels. The World Nuclear Association, an industry body, says the plan holds nuclear power's 2040 target at around 20% of electricity and puts renewables at 40-50%. It says 15 of Japan's 33 operable reactors had restarted as of its September 2026 update. The joint statement says Japan's JT-60SA fusion device starts plasma heating operation in 2026.

What to watch

As of October 2026, the main open questions are:

  • Rapidus: whether it reaches its 2027 mass-production target.
  • AI policy: the next annual update of the AI Basic Plan and the proposed AI summit.
  • Space: whether MMX launches as scheduled.
  • Energy: restarts of the seven reactors the World Nuclear Association lists in the approval process.

Japan timeline

  1. The United States and Japan publish a joint statement on progress under their Technology Prosperity Deal, covering AI, quantum, fusion and space.

    Source: U.S. Department of State

  2. The Cabinet adopts the Second AI Basic Plan, with pillars on adopting AI, creating AI, trustworthiness and collaboration with AI.

    Source: Cabinet Office, Government of Japan

  3. Rapidus announces a 150 billion yen investment from the government-affiliated IPA, taking its capital to 424.95 billion yen.

    Source: Rapidus Corporation

  4. The Cabinet adopts Japan's first AI Basic Plan under the country's AI Act.

    Source: Cabinet Office, Government of Japan

  5. Japan's AI Act, which creates the AI Strategic Headquarters chaired by the Prime Minister, comes into full effect.

    Source: Cabinet Office, Government of Japan

  6. The Cabinet approves the Seventh Strategic Energy Plan, alongside the GX2040 Vision.

    Source: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan

  7. Prime Minister Ishiba pledges more than 10 trillion yen in public support for AI and semiconductors by fiscal year 2030.

    Source: Prime Minister's Office of Japan

  8. JAXA's SLIM lander touches down on the Moon (US Eastern time); NASA says Japan is the fifth nation to complete a soft lunar landing.

    Source: NASA

Sources

  1. Outline of the Act on Promotion of Research and Development, and Utilization of AI-related Technology (AI Act), Cabinet Office, Government of Japan
  2. 人工知能基本計画 - 科学技術・イノベーション - 内閣府, Cabinet Office, Government of Japan
  3. Summary of the Japan's Second AI Basic Plan, Cabinet Office, Government of Japan
  4. Japan AISI - AI Safety Institute, Japan AI Safety Institute
  5. Press Conference by Prime Minister Ishiba, Prime Minister's Office of Japan
  6. NEDO Approves Rapidus' FY2026 Plan and Budget for 2nm Semiconductor Projects, Rapidus Corporation
  7. Rapidus Completes 150 Billion Yen Funding Round from Japan Government, Rapidus Corporation
  8. JASM Set to Expand in Kumamoto Japan, TSMC
  9. TSMC expanding 3nm capacity in Taiwan, U.S., Japan, Focus Taiwan (Central News Agency)
  10. Five Million Robots now Operate in Factories Globally, International Federation of Robotics
  11. Joint Statement on the U.S.-Japan Technology Prosperity Deal, U.S. Department of State
  12. NASA's LRO Spots Japan's Moon Lander, NASA
  13. NASA, Japan Advance Space Cooperation, Sign Agreement for Lunar Rover, NASA
  14. Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) | Spacecraft | ISAS, JAXA Institute of Space and Astronautical Science
  15. Launch of the MMX (Martian Moons eXploration) spacecraft onboard the H3 Launch Vehicle No. 10, JAXA Institute of Space and Astronautical Science
  16. Cabinet Decision on the Seventh Strategic Energy Plan, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan
  17. Nuclear Power in Japan, World Nuclear Association

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