Last May and June, Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, traveled extensively across Asia. He first visited China, then spent an extended period in Taiwan meeting with semiconductor supply chain companies, including TSMC. In early June, he traveled to South Korea to discuss AI collaboration with major firms like Samsung Electronics and SK Group. However, Japan was notably absent from his itinerary.
This omission left Japan's industrial sector feeling slighted, with concerns that NVIDIA had chosen Taiwan and South Korea as key partners in the AI era while overlooking Japan. This led to discussions about 'Japan passing' amid fears that the country was falling behind in the generative AI and advanced semiconductor race.
On July 15, just over a month after his visit to South Korea, Huang made a special trip to Japan. This marked his first official visit to the country in about nine months since October 2025. During this visit, he unveiled collaboration plans with Japanese companies, stating in Tokyo, "Physical AI presents a significant opportunity for Japan," and referred to it as the "beginning of AI in Japan." He emphasized the need for sovereign AI, arguing that a nation's intelligence should be nurtured and developed domestically.
NVIDIA will provide GPU and AI development tools to Toyota's Woven City, utilizing its technology for traffic control systems, next-generation vehicles, and robotics in manufacturing. In collaboration with Kawasaki Heavy Industries, NVIDIA plans to establish an AI shipyard, creating a digital twin of the shipyard in a virtual space and deploying AI agents for design, material procurement, production, and quality control. NVIDIA's technology will also be involved in developing AI robots that can move around the workspace and weld large components.
Mizuho Financial Group has partnered with NVIDIA to build its own AI computing infrastructure, aiming to utilize AI internally without exposing customer information and corporate secrets. The bank plans to transition many tasks traditionally handled by humans, such as document preparation, information gathering, and credit assessment, to AI.
Japan's national physical AI company, Noetra, is also expected to utilize NVIDIA's latest semiconductors. Noetra was established with the support of SoftBank, NEC, Honda, and Sony Group, with 44 Japanese companies investing and the government providing up to 1 trillion yen in support.
Huang's visit to Japan differed from his trips to China, Taiwan, and South Korea. In China, he focused on the vast market; in Taiwan, he assessed the semiconductor supply chain centered around TSMC; and in South Korea, he discussed memory semiconductors and AI infrastructure with Samsung and SK. In Japan, he addressed the future of manufacturing and the robotics industry, highlighting Toyota's automotive innovations, Kawasaki Heavy Industries' shipyard, and the physical AI project involving Japanese companies.
During his visit, Huang recognized the potential for AI to drive advancements in automotive technology, robotics, and production processes in factories and shipyards. While Japan has fallen behind the U.S. and China in the generative AI competition, the integration of AI with real-world machinery presents a different scenario.
Japan is home to major players like Toyota and Honda, as well as Fanuc, Yaskawa Electric, and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, which have long-standing competitive advantages in precision motors, gear reducers, sensors, industrial robots, and factory automation technologies. The data accumulated over decades in manufacturing is also a valuable asset. Physical AI is revitalizing these strengths. While generative AI focuses on creating text and images, physical AI operates real-world machines, enabling robots to work in factories, cars to drive autonomously, and AI to manage production processes in shipyards.
Huang's visit included more than just industrial collaboration. On the evening of July 15, he attended a joint event in Akihabara, Tokyo, hosted by NVIDIA and the gaming company Sega. NVIDIA faced a management crisis in the mid-1990s, and it is believed that without Sega's investment at that time, the company might not have survived. A former Sega vice president who made that investment was also present at the event. Even after becoming the CEO of a global AI company, Huang has not forgotten the support he received from Japanese firms. This aspect of his visit underscores its significance, alongside the major collaboration announcements with Toyota and Kawasaki Heavy Industries. That night, he reportedly visited an izakaya in Kanda, Tokyo, where he attended a scheduled social gathering with Japanese business executives.
During the day, he discussed physical AI and sovereign AI, and in the evening, he reaffirmed his long-standing relationship with Sega. His interactions with Japanese business leaders over drinks demonstrated that this visit was more than just a series of contract announcements. Japan is a market NVIDIA cannot afford to overlook. As AI semiconductors extend beyond data centers into automobiles, robotics, and factory equipment, the market potential expands significantly. Huang's emphasis on Japan's manufacturing capabilities reflects a calculated business judgment.
Just weeks ago, Japan seemed to be the country missing from Huang's Asian tour. However, this visit has changed that perception. Japan was not overlooked; it occupies a distinct role on a separate stage compared to China, Taiwan, and South Korea.
Although he visited last, Huang's unveiling of plans in Japan was substantial. It included Toyota's future city and automotive innovations, Kawasaki Heavy Industries' shipyard, and the physical AI project involving 44 Japanese companies. He also reaffirmed his long-standing connection with Sega.
While Japan may lag in the generative AI competition, it is preparing for an era where AI drives robotics, factories, and automobiles. The core of Huang's significant announcements in Japan lies precisely here.
This omission left Japan's industrial sector feeling slighted, with concerns that NVIDIA had chosen Taiwan and South Korea as key partners in the AI era while overlooking Japan. This led to discussions about 'Japan passing' amid fears that the country was falling behind in the generative AI and advanced semiconductor race.
On July 15, just over a month after his visit to South Korea, Huang made a special trip to Japan. This marked his first official visit to the country in about nine months since October 2025. During this visit, he unveiled collaboration plans with Japanese companies, stating in Tokyo, "Physical AI presents a significant opportunity for Japan," and referred to it as the "beginning of AI in Japan." He emphasized the need for sovereign AI, arguing that a nation's intelligence should be nurtured and developed domestically.
NVIDIA will provide GPU and AI development tools to Toyota's Woven City, utilizing its technology for traffic control systems, next-generation vehicles, and robotics in manufacturing. In collaboration with Kawasaki Heavy Industries, NVIDIA plans to establish an AI shipyard, creating a digital twin of the shipyard in a virtual space and deploying AI agents for design, material procurement, production, and quality control. NVIDIA's technology will also be involved in developing AI robots that can move around the workspace and weld large components.
Mizuho Financial Group has partnered with NVIDIA to build its own AI computing infrastructure, aiming to utilize AI internally without exposing customer information and corporate secrets. The bank plans to transition many tasks traditionally handled by humans, such as document preparation, information gathering, and credit assessment, to AI.
Japan's national physical AI company, Noetra, is also expected to utilize NVIDIA's latest semiconductors. Noetra was established with the support of SoftBank, NEC, Honda, and Sony Group, with 44 Japanese companies investing and the government providing up to 1 trillion yen in support.
Huang's visit to Japan differed from his trips to China, Taiwan, and South Korea. In China, he focused on the vast market; in Taiwan, he assessed the semiconductor supply chain centered around TSMC; and in South Korea, he discussed memory semiconductors and AI infrastructure with Samsung and SK. In Japan, he addressed the future of manufacturing and the robotics industry, highlighting Toyota's automotive innovations, Kawasaki Heavy Industries' shipyard, and the physical AI project involving Japanese companies.
During his visit, Huang recognized the potential for AI to drive advancements in automotive technology, robotics, and production processes in factories and shipyards. While Japan has fallen behind the U.S. and China in the generative AI competition, the integration of AI with real-world machinery presents a different scenario.
Japan is home to major players like Toyota and Honda, as well as Fanuc, Yaskawa Electric, and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, which have long-standing competitive advantages in precision motors, gear reducers, sensors, industrial robots, and factory automation technologies. The data accumulated over decades in manufacturing is also a valuable asset. Physical AI is revitalizing these strengths. While generative AI focuses on creating text and images, physical AI operates real-world machines, enabling robots to work in factories, cars to drive autonomously, and AI to manage production processes in shipyards.
Huang's visit included more than just industrial collaboration. On the evening of July 15, he attended a joint event in Akihabara, Tokyo, hosted by NVIDIA and the gaming company Sega. NVIDIA faced a management crisis in the mid-1990s, and it is believed that without Sega's investment at that time, the company might not have survived. A former Sega vice president who made that investment was also present at the event. Even after becoming the CEO of a global AI company, Huang has not forgotten the support he received from Japanese firms. This aspect of his visit underscores its significance, alongside the major collaboration announcements with Toyota and Kawasaki Heavy Industries. That night, he reportedly visited an izakaya in Kanda, Tokyo, where he attended a scheduled social gathering with Japanese business executives.
During the day, he discussed physical AI and sovereign AI, and in the evening, he reaffirmed his long-standing relationship with Sega. His interactions with Japanese business leaders over drinks demonstrated that this visit was more than just a series of contract announcements. Japan is a market NVIDIA cannot afford to overlook. As AI semiconductors extend beyond data centers into automobiles, robotics, and factory equipment, the market potential expands significantly. Huang's emphasis on Japan's manufacturing capabilities reflects a calculated business judgment.
Just weeks ago, Japan seemed to be the country missing from Huang's Asian tour. However, this visit has changed that perception. Japan was not overlooked; it occupies a distinct role on a separate stage compared to China, Taiwan, and South Korea.
Although he visited last, Huang's unveiling of plans in Japan was substantial. It included Toyota's future city and automotive innovations, Kawasaki Heavy Industries' shipyard, and the physical AI project involving 44 Japanese companies. He also reaffirmed his long-standing connection with Sega.
While Japan may lag in the generative AI competition, it is preparing for an era where AI drives robotics, factories, and automobiles. The core of Huang's significant announcements in Japan lies precisely here.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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