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Nvidia CEO Courts Japan's Hidden AI Chip Masters
17 Jul
Summary
- Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang met with top Japanese AI supply chain executives.
- The meeting occurred in a Kanda izakaya, a traditional Tokyo dining spot.
- Japanese firms supply crucial components like silicon wafers and memory chips.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang recently visited Tokyo's Kanda district to meet with influential Japanese suppliers vital to the artificial intelligence supply chain. The meeting took place in a traditional izakaya, drawing a crowd of admirers hoping for a glimpse of Huang, known online as 'Mr. Leather Jacket.'
Attendees included leaders from Kioxia Holdings Corp. (flash memory), Shin-Etsu Chemical Co. (silicon wafers), Tokyo Electron Ltd. (chip gear design), and Ajinomoto Co. (specialized films). Other key figures from Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd. (fiber optics) and Taiyo Yuden Co. (capacitors) were also present, demonstrating the broad industrial ecosystem Nvidia relies upon.
Huang stressed that while manufacturing occurs globally, the fundamental technology, chemical, and materials science underpinning semiconductors originate in Japan. He engaged warmly with executives, sharing sake and traditional food, and later interacted with fans outside the venue. The event signifies Nvidia's $5.1 trillion valuation and its effort to court Japan's critical industrial partners.
