Abstract

Players, dominance, dependencies, money flows, choke points. A complete picture of the semiconductor industry.

Semiconductors are now a fundamental technology supporting modern society, from AI and data centers to automobiles, communications, energy, and national security. However, the industrial structure is extremely complex, and it is difficult to grasp the whole picture by simply following daily news and corporate trends.

- If Japan were to build an advanced semiconductor factory, could it produce Japanese-made AI chips?
- Why are Taiwanese and American companies driving the world?
- Does Japan still have a chance to win?

To answer these questions, this book paints a complete picture of the semiconductor industry as a single "map."

This book is not a commentary on semiconductors themselves. While broadly surveying market size, design, manufacturing, equipment, materials, foundries, fabless companies, trading companies, and user companies, it systematically organizes "who creates value where, and where profits and bargaining power are concentrated." Furthermore, it delves into structural questions such as "why are there only a limited number of companies in the world that can handle advanced semiconductors?", "why has TSMC become such an overwhelming presence?", and "what are the reasons why Japan still has strengths in the equipment and materials fields?"

This book goes beyond simply describing the current state of the industry. Using the concept of "choke points" in the semiconductor industry as a central theme, it unravels why certain companies and countries wield strategic influence, and interprets the rise and fall of the Japanese semiconductor industry, the horizontal division of labor revolution, and the background of TSMC's rise within the context of history. By tracing how the three forces of "technology," "economics," and "politics" have transformed the industry structure, the essential dynamics of the semiconductor industry become clear.

Furthermore, it examines what will change with the explosive spread of AI. The era in which semiconductors remained a "cheap technology" is coming to an end, and computing power is becoming a scarce resource. Considering multifaceted changes such as AI data centers, chiplets, advanced packaging, the division into two technological spheres, economic security, and labor shortages, the book offers a vision of the future.

Author’s Information

He is the CEO of the F2F Group. At Hitachi, Ltd., he was involved in the development of semiconductors for large-scale computers and communication imaging equipment. At Hitachi's Silicon Valley division, he was involved in processor development, and after returning to Japan, he visited customers around the world to expand sales of products. At Renesas Electronics, he was in charge of strategy in the marketing department, and at Intel, he was in charge of processor businesses for foundries, data centers, and automobiles. From the development floor, to overseas customers, business strategy, and management—he has seen the same industry from different positions within it. He is currently an entrepreneur and serves as the CEO of the F2F Group. His book, "The Map of the Semiconductor Business," depicts the overall picture of this industry as a single map to answer questions from people in different positions, from young people struggling with their career paths to business managers deciding on investments and those involved in policymaking.