On August 21, it was reported that the Japanese government plans to allocate an additional 150 billion yen (approximately US$944 million) to support the chip startup Rapidus, aiming to increase investment to compete with companies like TSMC. According to sources familiar with the matter, Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will seek more funding for this domestic chip foundry manufacturer in the fiscal 2027 budget. Founded in 2022, Rapidus aims to manufacture cutting-edge 2-nanometer chips by 2027, helping Japan reduce its reliance on TSMC. Policymakers believe that Rapidus's success and technological independence in AI, robotics, and quantum computing are crucial for national security.