TSMC confirms plans to upgrade second plant in Kumamoto to 3nm

2026-02-05

Chip giant TSMC on Thursday confirmed that it is evaluating plans to upgrade one of its plants in Japan. Speculation had simmered in recent weeks about whether the company would upgrade its second plant in Kumamoto to 3-nanometer manufacturing, amid strong AI demand. TSMC CEO C.C. Wei on Thursday paid a visit to Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae. Besides his big business present, he also showed her that he had been a devoted fan of hers for some time. He showed the politician a book she had published five years ago, surprising Takaichi so much that her jaw hit the floor.

C.C. Wei
TSMC CEO
I would like to thank you for making time today with your busy schedule. By the way… I’m a strong supporter of Takaichi-san.

Takaichi Sanae
Japanese Prime Minister
This upgrade will help promote crisis-management investment and growth investment in Japan. AI and semiconductors are key strategic fields. Our cooperation with TSMC will become a new benchmark.

Liu Pei-chen
TIER
TSMC’s second plant in Kumamoto was originally planned to produce 6-nanometer and 7-nanometer chips. But even after capacity goes online, the plant would face a dilemma of not being able to utilize its capacity fully. So introducing a 3-nanometer process would help TSMC alleviate the issue promptly.

TSMC has confirmed that it is evaluating the upgrade for its second plant in Kumamoto, under its joint venture, JASM. The plant is expected to shift to more advanced 3-nanometer processes. During his meeting with Japan’s PM, Wei thanked the government of Japan, the government of Kumamoto Prefecture, and the local community for their support for the company. Japanese media reports say that TSMC originally planned to invest US$12.2 billion in the second plant, which would employ processes of 12 to 6 nanometers. With the upgrade, the total amount invested is expected to shoot up to US$17 billion.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#japan #semiconductors #chips #tsmc #kumamoto

重磅投資! 魏哲家會見日相高市熊本二廠評估"三奈米製程"

2026-02-05

日前不斷傳出台積電日本熊本二廠，有望改建成擴充三奈米先進製程，台積電今天證實正評估規劃，強調因為AI需求真的強勁。總裁魏哲家親赴日本，上午拜會首相高市早苗，不但當場遞上這份厚禮，還特地帶著高市五年前出版的著作，化身小粉絲，讓高市當場驚訝到嘴巴大開，下巴快掉下來。

[[台積電總裁暨董事長魏哲家]]
“我要感謝高市小姐，在百忙之中與我見面。順帶一提，我一直是...高市小姐的支持者。”

[[日本首相高市早苗]]
“這將可促進日本國內的危機管理投資及成長投資，AI及半導體正是關鍵的戰略領域之一，日本與台積電的合作，將成為一項標竿。”

[[台經院產經資料庫總監劉佩真]]
“台積電在熊本二廠，原先預定是在導入6奈米，或7奈米的製程，但由於未來即便產能開出，二廠也仍會面臨到，產能利用率無法填滿的一個窘境。未來直接導入到3奈米的製程，對於台積電來說，當然可以適時的去緩解。”

台積電給回應證實，正評估規劃JASM熊本二廠，可望改採三奈米製程，魏哲家在會中感謝日本政府、熊本縣廳等，和當地社區的支持。根據日媒透露，台積電原本在熊本二廠僅投資122億美元，用於製造6-12奈米晶片，現在將加大投資到170億美元。

更多新聞內容，請鎖定：
民視台灣台（152頻道）週一至週五晚上9:30
民視新聞台（53頻道）週二至週六凌晨1:00

HK pro-democracy activist’s Muay Thai studio vandalized

2026-02-05

Ultraman is the new star of Kaohsiung Winter Wonderland

Kaohsiuing Winter Wonderland is back and running from Feb. 7 to March 1, just in time for the Lunar New Year. Last year’s stars were the cute critters from Japanese comic Chiikawa. The anime go-getter spirit continues this year with Ultraman. On Wednesday night, a 15m-tall inflatable that will be the main piece was installed at the pier. Meanwhile, as many as 30 smaller Ultraman and other characters will also pop up all over the city’s main attractions.

Ultraman slowly emerges from a puddle of plastic. It regains shape and is ready to save the world! The inflatable is not just impressively large at 15m tall. True to the original anime series, the eyes and chest glows brightly, too. Many Ultraman fans have gathered to witness his resurrection.

Member of public
Ultraman fan
It’s cool. I wanted to try my luck, and indeed I was lucky to witness the moment of his birth.

Technician
Installing Ultraman inflatable
The production process this time differs from rubber ducks or Chiikawa that we had before, because there are lots of facial and torso details and shapes, which risk getting distorted in the production process, but we still managed to surpass all the challenges.

The details in this year’s centerpiece makes production more challenging than in previous years, but the commissioned team still managed to produce a true-to-scale Ultraman inflatable. Ultraman is the star of the 2026 Kaohsiung Winter Wonderland, which will kick off on Feb. 7. It’s also the 60th anniversary of Ultraman. Two massive Ultraman inflatables, the original and Ultraman Tiga will take center stage on the waterside, while smaller Ultraman elements will also be everywhere.

There will be 30, to be exact, all over main attractions of the city, including the Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal and the martyrs’ shrine. Meanwhile, a 5m-tall inflatable is also being set up in front of the old Kaohsiung Station building, complete with a Japanese logo on the ground. Even though the project isn’t completed yet, locals are rushing to snap a photo.

Member of public
Ultraman fan
I happened to drive past. I rushed home to get my merch for photos.

Chuang Shu-ting
FTV reporter
Here at Kaohsiung station, a chibi Ultraman stands with hands on hips. It’s really so adorable, and turns Kaohsiung into a city of superheroes.

There’s also an installation depicting a battle between Ultraman and Gomora. Suspended by cables, Ultraman appears to by flying in the air. This Lunar New Year, the whole city will liven up with the presence of these superheroes everywhere.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#anime #animefans #ultraman #chiikawa #kaohsiung

2026-02-05

Lai responds to phonecall between Xi and Trump

On Wednesday evening, the leaders of the US and China spoke on a phone call in which Taiwan was a key focus. Xi Jinping told Donald Trump to be “prudent” when it comes to supplying arms to Taiwan. Trump responded that he valued China’s concerns on the Taiwan issue, adding that he would maintain stable US-China relations during his term. On Friday, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te responded to the call between the two countries, reiterating that the ties between Taiwan and the US are rock solid. Let’s hear more from the president.

Lai Ching-te
President
We have good channels of communication between Taiwan and the US. This conversation between China and the US maintains four constants in the trilateral Taiwan-US-China relations. The first is that the ROC and the PRC are not subordinate to each other. The second is that the US’ commitments to Taiwan remain unchanged as stated in the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances. The third is that the US’ approach to maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region alongside its allies and partners based on its national security and defense strategies and alliances remains unchanged. The fourth is that Taiwan-US relations are rock solid.

President Lai also responded to recent comments by KMT Chair Cheng Li-wun after a series of exchanges between the KMT and the CCP. Cheng said that mainland China was family to Taiwan, and voiced support for the so-called “1992 Consensus,” which she says is not that scary. The original core idea in the “1992 Consensus” between the then-ruling KMT and China is that the two sides belonged to one China, with differing interpretations on what China means. But according to Lai, the consensus has now been taken by Xi Jinping to be an assertion of the CCP’s sovereignty over Taiwan. Lai says that supporters of the consensus must therefore consider themselves Chinese and are pushing for cross-strait unification.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#crossstrait #taiwan #china #us #xijinping #trump

2026-02-05

TSMC confirms plans to upgrade second plant in Kumamoto to 3nm