Behind the AI boom, Japanese companies’ materials and manufacturing equipment support the world. The article examines the current position of Japanese companies among the global leaders in semiconductor materials and manufacturing equipment, with commentary from individual investor Okeidon (おけいどん) and semiconductor trading company executive Shinkawa Yuya (新川 裕也).
Semiconductor stocks tend to attract attention for star companies such as NVIDIA and TSMC, but Japanese companies have a significant presence behind the scenes. Japanese companies maintain high global market shares in materials and manufacturing equipment, and their capabilities could influence future investment decisions. The article examines this in detail from a practitioner’s perspective.
In the materials sector, including silicon wafers, Japanese companies account for approximately half of the global market. The top two wafer suppliers are Shin-Etsu Chemical and SUMCO, which together hold approximately 60% of the global market. The article emphasizes that Japanese companies currently supply the high-quality wafers essential to cutting-edge analysis and manufacturing processes.
Japanese companies also maintain a prominent position in semiconductor manufacturing equipment, particularly in areas such as lithography and cleaning equipment. Although the sector is considered less visible than materials, the article highlights its importance in supporting the foundations of design and manufacturing.
This article is excerpted and reconstructed from “Triple, Fivefold and Tenfold Baggers Everywhere! The Complete Guide to Investing in Semiconductor and AI Stocks,” co-authored by individual investor Okeidon (おけいどん) and Shinkawa Yuya (新川 裕也), who runs the semiconductor trading company トナリズム. It is structured to convey the capabilities of Japanese companies and their potential as investment targets.