SEMICON Japan 2025 highlights growing focus on metrology and inspection

Japan’s largest semiconductor exhibition draws 1,216 exhibitors 

SEMICON Japan 2025, Japan’s largest comprehensive semiconductor exhibition, was held from December 17-19, 2025, at Tokyo Big Sight in Tokyo. A total of 1,216 companies and organizations exhibited, an increase of 109 from the 2024 event. Global semiconductor players such as U.S.-based NVIDIA are performing strongly, and equipment manufacturers are also benefiting from robust capital investment related to artificial intelligence (AI). While current market conditions center on AI-related capital investment, overall semiconductor demand, including non-AI applications, is expected to recover in earnest during 2026. 

Expanding focus beyond front-end processes 

This year’s exhibition reflected heightened interest not only in traditional front-end processes but also in advanced packaging that combines multiple semiconductors, design, and metrology. The show featured a dedicated “APCS” area specializing in back-end processes and newly established exhibition spaces dedicated to metrology and inspection, demonstrating how increasing semiconductor complexity and sophistication are generating new capital equipment demand. 

High-profile speakers draw attention 

The conference program featured prominent speakers including representatives from NVIDIA and U.S.-based Intel, as well as Satoshi Nohara, Director-General at Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), attracting significant attention.