Kioxia and Sandisk to Invest 5 Trillion Yen in Japan Chip Plant
Listen to the story
Kioxia and Sandisk, two major companies that make computer memory chips, have announced a large new investment in Japan.
The two companies will invest 5 trillion yen to build a new plant. This is one of the biggest investments of its kind in Japan.
The new facility will be built in Kitakami, a city in Iwate Prefecture, in northern Japan.
Kioxia already has other plants in Japan. Building a new one shows the company plans to grow its chip production.
The companies aim to start operations at the new plant during fiscal year 2029. This means the plant should be ready to make chips by that time.
Memory chips are used in phones, computers, and many other devices. Demand for these chips has grown quickly around the world.
Building new plants takes a long time and needs huge amounts of money. This is why the investment is so large.
Japan has been trying to strengthen its position in the global semiconductor industry. Big investments like this one support that goal.
The new plant in Kitakami is expected to create jobs and support the local economy in Iwate.
More details about the exact size and output of the new plant have not been given yet.
Vocabulary10 words
- memory chips
- small computer parts that store information
- trillion
- a very large number; 1,000 billion
- facility
- a building used for making or doing something
- production
- the act of making goods, like chips
- operations
- the daily work of a business or plant
- demand
- how much people want to buy something
- semiconductor
- material used to make computer chips
- invest
- to put money into something to help it grow
- prefecture
- a large area in Japan, like a state
- output
- the amount a factory produces
Quiz
Answer key
1. 5 trillion yen 2. Iwate 3. Fiscal year 2029
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Kioxia and Sandisk, two major companies that make computer memory _____, have announced a large new investment in Japan.
The two companies will invest 5 _____ yen to build a new plant.
The new facility will be built in _____, a city in Iwate Prefecture.
Kioxia already has other plants in Japan, and building a new one shows the company plans to grow its chip _____.
The companies aim to start _____ at the new plant during fiscal year 2029.
Memory chips are used in phones, computers, and many other _____.
_____ for these chips has grown quickly around the world.
Japan has been trying to strengthen its position in the global _____ industry.
The new plant in Kitakami is expected to create _____ and support the local economy.
More details about the exact size and _____ of the new plant have not been given yet.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think companies are investing so much money in chip plants right now?
- How might a new plant in Kitakami affect the local community?
- What devices in your daily life use memory chips?
- Do you think large investments like this help a country's economy? Why or why not?