Key Facts
• TSMC semiconductor plant started operations in Kikuyo Town, Kumamoto Prefecture.
• Kumamoto City, with about 730,000 residents, faces long-standing traffic congestion.
• Semicon Techno Park spans Kikuyo Town and Koshi City, hosting TSMC, JASM, Sony Semiconductor Manufacturing, and Tokyo Electron Kyushu.
• The Kumamoto Semiconductor Green Innovation Council (KSGI) was established in February to promote semiconductor industry growth.
• KSGI leaders requested infrastructure improvements from Governor Kimura.
• Governor Kimura acknowledged the urgent requests from semiconductor companies.
• Road improvements near the industrial park are prioritized; new section of Kumamoto West Ring Road opened in October.
• The Nakakyushu Transversal Road connecting Oita City and Kumamoto City is under development.
• Industry consensus calls for early resolution of severe congestion in central Kumamoto City.
• Companies plan measures like staggered shifts and promoting public transport to ease traffic.
• Transportation infrastructure is vital for semiconductor supply chains, not just factory operations.
• Governor Kimura emphasizes urgent, coordinated public-private efforts to tackle congestion amid growing semiconductor industry concentration.
Summary
The launch of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s (TSMC) plant in Kikuyo Town has highlighted persistent traffic congestion issues in the Kumamoto metropolitan area, including Kumamoto City with its population of approximately 730,000. The Semicon Techno Park, hosting major semiconductor firms such as TSMC, JASM, Sony Semiconductor Manufacturing, and Tokyo Electron Kyushu, is central to this challenge. In response, the Kumamoto Semiconductor Green Innovation Council (KSGI), formed in February, has urged Governor Kimura to accelerate infrastructure development. The governor has acknowledged these urgent requests, with road improvements underway, including the recent opening of a new section of the Kumamoto West Ring Road and ongoing work on the Nakakyushu Transversal Road. Industry leaders stress the critical role of transportation infrastructure in supporting semiconductor supply chains and advocate for swift congestion relief. Companies are also adopting internal measures like staggered working hours and encouraging public transit use. Governor Kimura calls for a united public-private approach to address the traffic issues promptly as the semiconductor industry continues to expand in Kumamoto.
