📖 About Fukuoka

Fukuoka is Japan's fourth-largest city and Kyushu's economic capital, with a metro GDP exceeding $101 billion. The city serves as Japan's gateway to Asia, closer to Seoul and Shanghai than to Tokyo. Fukuoka is renowned for its startup ecosystem, quality of life consistently ranked among Japan's best, and the famous Hakata ramen that draws food lovers worldwide.

Kyushu is experiencing a semiconductor renaissance driven by TSMC's massive investments. The Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing (JASM) joint venture—majority owned by TSMC with Sony, Denso, and Toyota—operates a $23 billion fab in nearby Kumamoto. As of April 2025, JASM employs around 2,400 workers. Kyushu's IC production value hit ¥1 trillion in 2024 for the first time in 16 years. The region has attracted over 100 semiconductor-related investments totaling approximately ¥5 trillion.

Fukuoka Prefecture hosts 15 semiconductor supplier projects as part of this boom. At SEMICON Taiwan 2025, 15 Kyushu chip suppliers exhibited to promote Japan-Taiwan investment ties. TSMC's second Kumamoto fab, announced for construction in late 2025, will produce 6-7nm chips by 2027. Mitsubishi Chemical plans a photoresist factory in Fukuoka. Japan's government has invested ¥3.9 trillion ($25.7 billion) in semiconductors between 2022-2025—0.71% of GDP, the highest ratio among major economies.

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💼 Economy & Culture

Fukuoka's economy combines technology, manufacturing, services, and increasingly semiconductors. The city is Japan's designated national strategic special zone for startups, offering regulatory exemptions to foster innovation. Proximity to Korea and China makes Fukuoka a key trade and tourism hub. The semiconductor supply chain emerging around TSMC's Kumamoto fab creates spillover benefits throughout Kyushu.

Fukuoka's culture blends traditional Hakata heritage with cosmopolitan modernity. The Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival dates to 1241, featuring dramatic float racing each July. The yatai food stall culture is unique to Fukuoka—mobile ramen stands line the streets each evening. Despite being a major city, Fukuoka retains a relaxed, livable atmosphere that makes it consistently rank among Japan's most desirable places to live.

📜 History

Fukuoka's history stretches back millennia as Japan's gateway to continental Asia. The ancient Hakata port traded with China and Korea. The city faced Mongol invasion attempts in 1274 and 1281, both defeated by the famous "kamikaze" typhoons. Hakata merchants developed thriving commercial culture, including the distinctive festival traditions that continue today.

The Edo period saw the castle town of Fukuoka develop alongside merchant Hakata. The two cities merged in 1889. Post-war industrialization made Fukuoka Kyushu's dominant city. Recent decades brought startup ecosystem development and airport-centric urban planning. The 2020s semiconductor renaissance positions Fukuoka at the center of Japan's national technology strategy, building on its traditional role as Asia gateway.