财经观察：集八强之力，日本半导体龙头瞄准了谁？

Core Viewpoint - Japan's semiconductor industry is experiencing a potential revival with the announcement from Rapidus about successfully trial-producing 2nm semiconductor core components, aiming for mass production by 2027, amidst discussions on whether Japan can regain its former global dominance in the semiconductor sector [1] Group 1: Industry Context - The Japanese government views the semiconductor industry as crucial for national economic security, leading to the establishment of Rapidus in 2022 with significant backing from major companies like Toyota and Sony, totaling 7.3 billion yen [2] - Rapidus faces a daunting financial challenge, with an estimated total investment of 5 trillion yen required to achieve 2nm chip mass production, while the government has pledged up to 1.72 trillion yen in support [2][10] - Japan's semiconductor manufacturing has lagged behind global leaders, with the most advanced process previously being 40nm, while TSMC has already achieved 3nm production and plans to start 2nm production by late 2025 [4] Group 2: Technological and Competitive Challenges - The success of Japan's semiconductor industry hinges on establishing a stable customer base for Rapidus, which is essential for sustaining production and further development [6][10] - Despite receiving external technological and talent support, Japan's semiconductor industry struggles with a significant talent shortage, as many top graduates are attracted to companies like TSMC [7][8] - The reliance on external sources for core technologies raises concerns about Japan's ability to create a self-sustaining semiconductor supply chain, with the lack of clear customer demand for 2nm products posing a risk of high production costs and reduced customer interest [11]