Japan's efforts to rebuild its semiconductor industry are getting a shot in the arm as more and more Taiwanese chip companies expand here - not only to support a new TSMC plant but also excited about the Japanese sector's prospects.

A 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck central Japan on Monday afternoon, collapsing buildings, causing fires and triggering tsunami alerts as far away as eastern Russia, prompting orders for residents to evacuate affected coastal areas of Japan.

Japanese chipmaker Rapidus says it is working on an alliance with Canadian startup Tenstorrent, which has an edge in AI chip design.

Japan's Kioxia on Tuesday reported a JPY100.8 billion (US$664.5 million) operating loss in the second quarter as earnings were hit by a slump in demand for memory chips used in smartphones and personal computers (PC).

Japan is aiming to secure an additional JPY1.49 trillion (US$10 billion) in subsidies for two key semiconductor projects, according to a key ruling party lawmaker for chips.

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is allocating up to JPY192 billion (US$1.29 billion) in subsidies for US chipmaker Micron Technology's work in Hiroshima prefecture, Nikkei has learned, in a move to bolster domestic semiconductor supply chains.

Japanese chipmaking device supplier Disco wants to establish a center in India that would provide support for clients and serve as a base for marketing to the country's budding semiconductor industry, according to an executive at the company.

Government-backed Japan Investment Corp. is in talks to acquire JSR, the leading producer of photoresist for semiconductor manufacturing, for roughly JPY1 trillion (US$7 billion), Nikkei has learned.

The Alibaba co-founder, who has an estimated fortune of $33 billion, has largely kept a low profile since the Chinese government began a fierce crackdown on the tech sector more than two years ago.

TSMC plans to construct a second chip plant in Japan to manufacture 5- and 10-nanometre chips from the second half of the decade, the Nikkan Kogyo newspaper reported on Friday.

The Japanese government is drawing up plans to impose export restrictions on advanced semiconductor-making machines, Kyodo News reported. The move reflects a US-led deal with Japan and the Netherlands to limit the development of China's advanced semiconductor industry.

Sony Group is considering building a new factory to make smartphone image sensors in the Kumamoto prefecture of Japan and sourcing chips from TSMC's planned chip plant in the area.

IBM and Rapidus, a newly formed chip maker backed by the Japanese government, on Tuesday announced a partnership that aims to manufacture the world's most advanced chips in Japan by the second half of the decade.

Seen as the most promising next-generation solar cell, this technology, called perovskite, is exactly what Japanese start-up Enecoat Technologies is trying to develop.

The Japanese yen on Thursday fell to 140 yen per dollar, reaching a level last seen in August 1998.

One particular region is out of Sony's price-hike crosshairs for now: the United States.

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) will offer subsidies worth up to JPY476 billion (US$3.5 billion) for a semiconductor plant being built in Kumamoto Prefecture by TSMC, Sony and Denso, the ministry said on Friday.

Japan's semiconductor material makers are moving to raise prices, as strong demand and the Ukraine war tighten supplies. The upward pressure on costs could translate into higher prices for products such as cars and home appliances.

Toyota Group plans to invest 48 billion Indian rupees ($624 million) to make electric vehicle components in India, as the Japanese carmaker works toward carbon neutrality by 2050. Toyota Kirloskar Motor and Toyota Kirloskar Auto Parts signed a memorandum of understanding with the southern state of Karnataka to invest 41 billion Indian rupees, the group said in a statement Saturday. The rest will come from Toyota Industries Engine India.

Toyota says it will suspend operations at more production lines at its factories in Japan this month due to the coronavirus lockdown in Shanghai.

Japanese automaker Suzuki Motor and 'flying car' firm SkyDrive said on Tuesday they have signed a deal to team up in research, development and marketing of electric, vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.

A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Fukushima in northern Japan on Wednesday night, smashing furniture, knocking out power and killing four people. A small tsunami reached shore, but the low-risk advisory was lifted by Thursday morning.

Japan will stop exporting semiconductors to Russia next week, joining the US and its European allies in efforts to cripple Russia's military capability.

Toyota will shut down all 14 of its factories in Japan on Tuesday after a possible cyber-attack. Its supplier Kojima Industries Corporation suspected it had been hit by a cyber-attack, causing a halt in production.

Sony said Tuesday that it has completed the initial funding of TSMC's chipmaking subsidiary in Japan, a key milestone in their joint venture.

Japan's Sony Group plans to launch a company this spring to examine entering the electric vehicle market, looking to harness its strengths in entertainment and sensors to play a bigger role in next-generation mobility.

Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T)has halted production at two factories in Japan due to a supply shortage, a spokesperson told Reuters on Thursday.

Japan is allocating about JPY600 billion (US$5.2 billion) of its fiscal 2021 supplementary budget to support advanced semiconductor manufacturers, Nikkei has learned.

The Japanese government said it will make an aggressive push to help domestic semiconductor companies expand globally, with a goal of increasing their annual revenue to more than JPY13 trillion (US$114 billion) by 2030.

Sony Group on Thursday confirmed it is considering a plan to join with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. in building a chip factory in the western Japanese prefecture of Kumamoto.

Micron Technology is planning to build a DRAM plant in Hiroshima prefecture, western Japan, for as much as JPY800 billion (US$6.98 billion), the Nikkan Kogyo newspaper reported Wednesday, without attribution.

TSMC is finalizing a decision to put its first chip plant in Japan into operation as early as 2023, Nikkei has learned.

Japan's Kioxia Holdings, the world's second largest maker of flash memory chips and formerly known as Toshiba Memory, plans an initial public offering as early as September, weekly financial magazine Diamond reported on Thursday.

A global shortage of semiconductors is continuing to put the brakes on Japan's car-manufacturing industry.

Tokyo and Taipei would be smart to work more closely on technology development.

Renesas Electronics on Tuesday said restoring full production capacity at a fire-damaged chip plant in Japan would take longer than expected, predicting a return to normal by mid-June rather than the previously estimated end of May.

About 20 Japanese companies, including electronic component maker Ibiden, will work with TSMC to develop chip manufacturing technology in Japan, the Nikkei newspaper reported.

Japan's government wants TSMC and Sony to invest JPY1 trillion (US$9.2 billion) to build the country's first 20 nanometre chip plant, the Nikkan Kogyo newspaper reported on Wednesday.

With the market for flash memory only expected to grow, Western Digital CEO David Goeckeler says the US chipmaker sees Japan's Kioxia Holdings as a long-term partner that is key to staying competitive against big Asian rivals.

With chipmaker Renesas Electronics not expected to achieve a full recovery from its recent factory fire until mid-July, Japan's largest automakers have begun bracing for long-term disruptions and potential production cuts.