TSMC Restarts Japan Plant After 7.1 Quake

TSMC Restarts Japan Plant After 7.1 Quake

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC) announced on 29 July 2026 that it has begun gradually restoring operations at its Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing (JASM) facility in Kumamoto Prefecture after a 7.1‑magnitude earthquake struck the region. The quake killed at least 13 people, knocked out power to thousands of homes and ruptured roads across the area.

All personnel at the JASM plant were safely evacuated following the tremor. Subsequent post‑quake inspections verified that the plant’s structures remained sound, enabling TSMC to resume production in stages while engineers continue detailed inspections and assess any potential impact on equipment and ongoing operations.

The company also confirmed that construction work at the JASM expansion site sustained no damage. Nevertheless, certain portions of the expansion project were temporarily suspended as a precautionary measure against possible aftershocks.

The Kumamoto facility, which commenced production earlier in the year, forms a key element of TSMC’s strategy to expand manufacturing capacity outside Taiwan and to reinforce Japan’s domestic semiconductor supply chain. The project has received significant financial backing from the Japanese government, reflecting Tokyo’s aim to bolster chip production amid heightened geopolitical and supply‑chain risks.