# JASM Kumamoto fabs by TSMC

Canonical page: https://technooptimist.io/computing/jasm-kumamoto
Frontier: [Computing](https://technooptimist.io/computing.md) · Field: Chip factories (foundries) · Company: [TSMC](https://technooptimist.io/companies/tsmc.md)
Stage: Deploy (4 of 5: Research → Proto → Pilot → Deploy → Scaling)
Updated: last update 2026-03-31, facts checked 2026-10-11
Goal: Give Japan a local supply of logic chips, first mature chips for its car and image-sensor makers, then leading-edge 3 nm for AI, while spreading TSMC's production beyond Taiwan.
Status: Fab 1 in volume production since Dec 2024; Fab 2 switched to 3 nm, with production due in 2028.
Next milestone: Fab 2 tool install and production start (3 nm), target 2028 (slipped 12 months; originally 2027)

## Milestones

| Status | Milestone | Date | Slip |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Done | Fab 1 construction starts | Apr 2022 |   |
| Done | Fab 2 announced; Toyota joins JASM | 6 Feb 2024 |   |
| Done | Fab 1 opening ceremony | 24 Feb 2024 |   |
| Done | Fab 1 mass production (12-28 nm) | Dec 2024 |   |
| Done | Taiwan approves 3 nm for Fab 2 | 31 Mar 2026 |   |
| Current | Fab 2 tool install and production start (3 nm) | 2028 | +12 mo (originally 2027) |

## Upcoming events

- **2028**: Fab 2 tool install and production start (3 nm) (slipped 12 mo)

## Most important updates

- **31 Mar 2026**: Taiwan approves 3nm for TSMC's second Kumamoto fab, with production from 2028. Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs approved TSMC's plan to use its 3 nm process at the second Kumamoto fab, upgrading it from the 6-12 nm approved in 2024. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/taiwan-approves-3nm-for-tsmc-s-second-kumamoto-fab-with-production-from-e17946e1.md) · [original source](https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2026/04/01/2003854797))
- **27 Dec 2024**: TSMC's first Kumamoto fab begins mass production. TSMC confirmed that its first Kumamoto fab had started mass production, after Kumamoto Prefecture was notified on December 23. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/tsmc-s-first-kumamoto-fab-begins-mass-production-152f5e9b.md) · [original source](https://www.trendforce.com/news/2024/12/27/news-tsmc-sets-key-milestone-in-japan-as-kumamoto-fab-begins-mass-production/))
- **24 Feb 2024**: TSMC opens its first Japanese fab in Kumamoto, backed by up to ¥476B in subsidies. JASM held the opening ceremony for its first Kumamoto plant, built since April 2022 with a Japanese government subsidy of ¥476B (about $3.16B). ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/tsmc-opens-its-first-japanese-fab-in-kumamoto-backed-by-up-to-476b-in-26a7de7b.md) · [original source](https://technode.com/2024/02/27/tsmc-opens-first-majority-stake-plant-in-japan/))
- **6 Feb 2024**: TSMC announces second Kumamoto fab with Sony, Denso and Toyota; JASM investment to top $20B. TSMC, Sony Semiconductor Solutions, Denso and Toyota agreed to invest further in JASM to build a second fab in Kumamoto, Japan, with construction from end-2024 and operations by end-2027. ([our story](https://technooptimist.io/stories/tsmc-announces-second-kumamoto-fab-with-sony-denso-and-toyota-jasm-9f9a2d52.md) · [original source](https://pr.tsmc.com/english/news/3105))

## Current obstacles

- **Fab 2 delayed by the node change**: Fab 2 was due to start production by end-2027; the switch to 3 nm moved equipment install and production to 2028.

## How it works

### Owners: Customers co-own the fab

TSMC holds about 86.5% of JASM; Sony (6%), Denso (5.5%) and Toyota (2%) own the rest and buy its chips.

### Fab 1: Mature chips for Japanese industry

Makes 12-28 nm logic chips for image sensors and cars, with first orders from its co-owners Sony and Denso.

### Fab 2: Upgraded for AI

First planned for 6-7 nm, Fab 2 was switched to 3 nm in 2026, citing soaring AI demand.

## Spec sheet

| Spec | JASM Kumamoto fabs | Provenance |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Fab 1 capacity | 55,000 wafers/month (300 mm) | reported |
| Fab 1 process nodes | 28/22 nm and 16/12 nm | reported |
| Fab 2 capacity | 15,000 wafers/month (3 nm) | reported |
| Japan subsidy, Fab 1 | Up to ¥476B | reported |
| Total JASM investment (2024 plan) | Over $20B | reported |
| TSMC stake in JASM | About 86.5% | reported |

Provenance: reported = stated by the company; estimated = our estimate; sample = a sample figure.

## About TSMC

TSMC, founded in Taiwan in 1987, builds chips that other companies design. It makes most of the world's most advanced chips, including Apple's, NVIDIA's and AMD's. Its CoWoS packaging is a key bottleneck for AI chips.

- N2 (2 nm class) in volume production since Q4 2025. A16 is planned for the second half of 2026.
- Pledged $165B in total for US factories, packaging and R&D in Arizona.
- Makes nearly all leading AI chips and packages them with CoWoS.

- Founded: 1987
- Headquarters: TW
- Status: public
- Listing: TSM (NYSE)
- Valuation: $2.3T (market cap, 2026-09)
- Staff: ~83,825
- Website: https://www.tsmc.com
- People: C.C. Wei (Chairman and CEO); Morris Chang (Founder (retired))
- Partners, customers, investors: Apple (customer); NVIDIA (customer); AMD (customer); ASML (supplier); US Department of Commerce (partner)

Company page: https://technooptimist.io/companies/tsmc.md

## Related programs

More from TSMC:

- [N2 process](https://technooptimist.io/computing/n2.md) (Scaling)
- [CoWoS advanced packaging](https://technooptimist.io/computing/cowos.md) (Scaling)
- [TSMC Arizona](https://technooptimist.io/computing/tsmc-arizona.md) (Deploy)
- [A16 process](https://technooptimist.io/computing/a16.md) (Deploy)
- [A14 process](https://technooptimist.io/computing/a14.md) (Research)
- [SoIC (System on Integrated Chips)](https://technooptimist.io/computing/soic.md) (Deploy)
- [ESMC Dresden fab](https://technooptimist.io/computing/esmc-dresden.md) (Proto)

Everything in Computing: https://technooptimist.io/computing.md

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