Rapidus’ push to put Japan back in leading-edge chipmaking is pulling ASML’s service army closer. The Dutch lithography giant plans to grow its Japanese staff from 500 to about 700 by 2030, ASML Japan president Shojiro Fujiwara said, stationing more engineers at customer sites for faster response.
The Chitose office near Rapidus’ Hokkaido fab has already doubled to roughly 50 engineers since opening in 2024, and ASML is weighing a Kumamoto presence close to TSMC’s two Japanese fabs. Micron’s Hiroshima DRAM plant also runs the company’s tools.
Japanese revenue climbed about 40 percent in 2025 to €1.2B. Rapidus is the anchor customer, targeting 2nm output in fiscal 2027, and its CEO Atsuyoshi Koike says dozens of potential customers are in talks. Japan’s trade ministry wants another ¥150B for the venture, which would lift cumulative state backing to ¥400B.
