On April 1, 2025, TSMC's Japanese subsidiary, JASM, hosted its annual new employee enrollment ceremony, a tradition for many Japanese companies, at its headquarters in Kikuyo Town, Kumamoto Prefecture, Kyushu. Despite delays in the installation of some equipment at JASM's first wafer plant and a postponed construction schedule for the second plant, the company saw a significant increase in the number of new hires this year.
According to Nikkei, this marked the third enrollment ceremony for JASM, with a record 527 new employees attending—more than double the 256 hired in 2024. These new hires are mostly fresh graduates from universities and research institutions.
JASM also highlighted its ongoing efforts to strengthen local talent recruitment, signaling its commitment to expanding its workforce in the region.
During the ceremony, JASM's CEO, Y.H. Liaw, addressed the new employees, emphasizing the company's goal of driving continuous innovation and contributing to the economic growth of Japan, the Kyushu region, Kumamoto Prefecture, and Kikuyo Town.
JASM's manufacturing status and challenges
JASM's first wafer fab in Kumamoto began mass production by the end of 2024. It currently employs about 1,700 people, including expatriates from Taiwan and the Sony Group, recent graduates from local universities, and mid-career professionals. This facility is set to manufacture chips with 12/16nm and 22/28nm process technologies. However, production is currently focused on the 22/28nm chips, primarily serving clients like Sony, Denso, and Renesas.
Reports indicate that the installation of equipment for the 12/16nm chips will be delayed until after 2026 due to sluggish demand in consumer electronics, automotive, and industrial chips. The uncertainty caused by the Trump administration's tariff policies has further contributed to the cautious approach to expanding production capacity.
Expansion plans remain on target despite delays
TSMC is also planning to build a second wafer fab on the eastern side of its first Kumamoto facility. The new fab will produce chips with 6nm and 40nm process technologies. Although the construction of the second plant was initially scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2025, this has now been delayed to later in the year. However, JASM has emphasized that the projected timeline for the plant's production to start by the end of 2027 remains unchanged.
Article edited by Jerry Chen
