2026 is expected to be the year when mass production of humanoid robots gets fully under way, and 20 Japanese stocks have been selected as companies demonstrating the viability of the component supply chain. The article takes a closer look while excluding THK, covering a diverse range of companies from established leaders to under-the-radar names.
2026 is expected to mark the transition of humanoid robots from laboratory exhibits to industrial products mass-produced in factories. As Tesla and other companies strengthen their mass-production capabilities, the article states that Japanese companies are at the core of the supply of critical components. It explains how Japanese companies hold leading global shares in fields including RV reducers and harmonic drives as key suppliers of components for the robotics industry.
In Japan, the general incorporated association KyoHA was established in August 2025, led by Waseda University, tmsuk, Murata Manufacturing, and SRE Holdings, with several listed companies, including Mabuchi Motor, KYB, and NOK, also participating. The article explains that this has provided more information for assessing which companies are seriously pursuing opportunities in the humanoid-robot sector.
International collaboration is also gaining momentum. At NVIDIA GTC in March 2026, Yaskawa Electric and FANUC joined the physical AI ecosystem, while in July of the same year Fujitsu announced that it had begun considering the implementation of social applications incorporating NVIDIA technology. SoftBank Group's acquisition of ABB's robotics division was also completed around the same time.
The article classifies and explains 20 TSE-listed stocks that could benefit from the mass production of humanoid robots across 3 tiers: large-cap established leaders, mid- and small-cap companies with proven capabilities, and highly under-the-radar names. It excludes THK (6481) and plans to cover 19 companies plus others. From a bill-of-materials perspective, it also focuses on areas that the market has not fully priced in, including force sensors, spherical bearings, motor cores, and prototyping and mold-making.