SEMICON JAPAN 2024 (sponsored by SEMI) opened from December 11 to 13 at Tokyo. Under the theme of “HERE YOU HAVE FUTURE OF SEMICONDUCTER” there were 1108 participants of the manufacturers of semiconductor, electronics parts and the other related industries of participants with 150 more exhibits as a whole comparing the participation of last year.

Overseas participants were also lively as well as the domestic industries. The number of the total exhibits counted for 244 which was 1.3 times more than last year.

The increased participants of 35 (19 last year) of overseas included those from China, Korea, Taiwan, Germany and the USA.

The exhibitors from the gas and gas-related equipment manufacturers were as follows:-
Taiyo Nipon Sanso; Air Water; Tomoe Shokai; Toyoko Kagaku; Takachiho Shoji; Fujikin; Kitz ACT; Value Impact, Nittetsu Stainless Stee Pipe; Kuze Bellows; Yutaka, Horiba STEC; KOFLOC; Riken Keiki; New Cosmos Electric; Nippon Seisen; Pureon Japan; Kanken Techno; Edwards; Nishimura Chemitec; Clean Technology

The main driving force of demand for semiconductor is investments in connection with generative AI. SEMI forecasts world’s investment to the storage of clouds on the Internet amounting to $192 billion in 2024 and there is no weakening trend in the investment for generative AI also in 2025 forecasting $231 billion.

Regarding the report of the data center the ultimate usages in the semiconductor market, the data center foresees a growth of 34% in 2030, while it was 23% in 2024.
As generative AI requires HBN loaded with DRAM memories, manufactures like SK Hynix and Micron Technology are planning to have new plants in the USA and Japan.
How to take in such trend will draw people’s attention in the years 2025.

Looking at the trend of semiconductor plants, JASM built a plant in Kumamoto to start regular operation in December 2024. In 2025 marketing aiming for the planned second construction will be thriving in a severe competition.

In Hokkaido Rapidus supplied EUV exposure equipment towards the end of last year. It will follow that there will be construction of various equipment. Micron Memory Higashi Hiroshima plant will be preparing for the mass production of HBM. KIOXIA and Sony are also moving for capital investments. The trend is getting nationwide.