Japan Wants To Build From Long Sleep After Being Left Behind In Technology Affairs

Photo by Andy Kelly on Unsplash

JAKARTA - Japan had become a leader for technology matters. Unfortunately, the slow response made them overtake by South Korea to China.

Japan is now trying to wake up from its long sleep. Massive investment abroad and domestically offers Japan to reclaim its tech crown.

But, to be a convincing alternative for China, the country must embrace rapid innovations, experts say.

The US tech giant poured billions of dollars into artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and chip production in Japan, which dominated the hardware industry in the 1980s.

Google launched a regional cyber defense center in Japan last month, and Amazon Web Services spent US$14 billion to expand Japan's cloud infrastructure.

And in its latest move, this week Microsoft, the partner maker of the OpenAI ChatGPT, promised US$2.9 billion to increase the greatness of AI in the country.

"Geopolitical tension has made Japan a more attractive and stable partner than China," said Khos-Erdene Baatarkhuu, CEO of fintech company AND Global.

Japan's technology sector, once a leader, lost power due to a slower response to digital and cellular trends compared to neighboring countries like South Korea, he said.

But now, with government policies in favor, tough startups, and potential global technological changes, Japan has the opportunity to regain its technological advantages.