Takashi Kimura, the new mayor of Kumamoto Prefecture, stated over the weekend that he is ready to "do his best to support" to attract TSMC to establish Japan's third wafer factory in the area.
Previously, it was reported that TSMC was considering setting up a third wafer factory in Japan, also located in Kumamoto, and planned to produce more advanced chips. However, TSMC has not yet engaged in practical negotiations with local departments in Kumamoto.
In response to this, Kimura Jing, who took office in April, stated in the latest interview that "we are ready to fully support" and at the same time hope to build Kumamoto Prefecture into a semiconductor industry settlement.  
At the same time, he stated that when TSMC's two factories in Juyang Town began operating, concerns about groundwater shortages sparked discussions about the possibility of using dam water. It is understood that semiconductor factories usually use thousands of cubic meters of groundwater every day. TSMC Japan promises to reduce water usage, recycle more water, and strive to replenish more water than it uses.
In February this year, TSMC opened its first factory in Japan and is expected to begin large-scale production later this year. The construction of TSMC's second factory will also receive government subsidies and is scheduled to begin by the end of 2024.
These two factories combined are expected to employ over 3400 employees and have driven up land prices and infrastructure investment. According to estimates from the Kyushu Economic Research Center, related companies will contribute approximately 10.5 trillion yen (67.4 billion US dollars) to the economy of Kumamoto Prefecture over the next 10 years.
Kimura Jing said that negotiations during the construction of the first factory provided Kumamoto Prefecture with better roads and water infrastructure, as well as better support for the education system of international school students. He hopes to have enough semiconductor related companies and research institutions settle in Kumamoto to create a place similar to the Hsinchu Science and Technology Park in Taiwan.
"We hope Kumamoto become the birthplace of countless industries originating from semiconductors, such as artificial intelligence, data centers, and autonomous driving," he said.
Kimura also said that semiconductors are crucial for reducing energy consumption. He said. "They are crucial for the future of the Earth."