[News] Japan Earthquake Impact: TEL and Rapidus Unharmed, Spotlight Turns to Kioxia Kitakami Fabs

A strong earthquake struck Japan’s Tohoku region at around 11:15 p.m. on the 8th (Japan time), raising concerns about potential impacts on nearby semiconductor manufacturers. According to Chinese media outlet ICsmart, citing sources, the areas most affected were primarily the southern coastal region of Hokkaido as well as Aomori and Iwate Prefectures. Among these, Iwate is a key semiconductor hub in the Tohoku region, home to major facilities operated by companies such as Tokyo Electron and Kioxia.

Tokyo Electron Reports No Earthquake Impact

As noted by Japanese outlet ITmedia, Tokyo Electron reported that its two facilities—Tokyo Electron Technology Solutions Tohoku Office in Ōshū City, Iwate Prefecture, and Tokyo Electron Miyagi in Kurokawa District, Miyagi Prefecture—sustained no damage following the magnitude-6+ quake, and both remain in normal operation. The ITmedia report adds that the Tohoku Office develops equipment used to deposit films onto wafers during semiconductor production, while Tokyo Electron Miyagi develops equipment that etches those films along circuit patterns after deposition.

If Kioxia’s Kitakami Fabs Halt, NAND Supply Pressures May Intensify

As for Japan’s major NAND manufacturer Kioxia, ICsmart notes that in Iwate Prefecture, the company’s key memory production sites—Fab 1 and Fab 2—are located in Kitakami City, where the seismic intensity reached 4. The report warns that if Kioxia’s NAND Flash facilities in Kitakami were to be affected and forced to halt production, it could exacerbate current NAND Flash shortages and push prices higher.

In addition to Kioxia, according to ICsmart, Toshiba also operates an LSI chip plant in Iwate Prefecture that produces microprocessors and image sensors. Japan Semiconductor Corporation’s headquarters and factory are also located in Kitakami City, where the company primarily manufactures system LSI, analog semiconductors, and power semiconductor products.

Rapidus’s Hokkaido Facility Remains Unharmed

Meanwhile, ICsmart notes that in Japan’s Hokkaido region, Rapidus’s 2nm wafer fabrication plant is located in Chitose City, where the seismic intensity reached 5-. According to Hokkaido Shimbun, Rapidus states that its Chitose plant sustained no damage or impact from the earthquake, either to personnel or equipment.

Read more

• [News] Tokyo Electron Sees AI-Driven Sales Hitting 40% by FY2026, Offsetting China Slowdown
• [News] Rapidus Reportedly Eyes 2029 1.4nm Production with 2nd Hokkaido Fab to Catch Foundry Giants

(Photo credit: Kioxia)