The Impact and Future of Quantum Computing in Japan

Recently, Japan has achieved a series of key breakthroughs in the field of quantum computing. Fujitsu and the RIKEN jointly launched a 256-qubit superconducting quantum computer. The first neutral atom quantum computer jointly developed by the Institute of Molecular Science and Hitachi is about to be put into commercial use. The Coherent Isin Machine (CIM) technology of NTT Research continues to be iterated. These advancements indicate that Japan is building a differentiated competitive edge in the global quantum race through a unique model of advancing multiple technological routes and deeply integrating industry, academia, and research.

Japan's technological layout in the field of quantum computing presents a three-pronged feature of "superconductivity - photons - cold atoms". The 256-qubit superconducting quantum computer jointly developed by Fujitsu and RIKEN has increased the qubit density to four times that of the previous generation through 3D high-density integration technology and achieved efficient heat dissipation within the dilution chiller. This technical route continues the unit cell design of the 64-qubit system in 2023, and its scalability has been verified. The next goal is directly aimed at the 1,000-qubit model in 2026. The CIM technology of NTT Research simulates qubits with light pulses, solves the Ising model through optical fiber rings and optical parametric oscillators, and can complete the combinatorial optimization calculation without the need for an ultra-low temperature environment. Its first-generation system released in 2017 can handle 2,000 node optimization problems, which is 100 times faster than traditional computers. Currently, it has collaborated with institutions such as NASA and the California Institute of Technology to develop a 10,000-node CIM. A new company jointly established by the Japanese industrial sector plans to launch a prototype of a neutral atom quantum computer in 2026 and commercialize 10,000 qubits by 2030. This technical route uses laser cooling technology to capture atomic arrays. The stability of qubits is 30% higher than that of the superconducting scheme, and it has more advantages in quantum error correction and large-scale parallel computing.

The core of Japan's breakthrough in quantum computing lies in the five-dimensional collaboration of "government, industry, academia, research and application". The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan's "Optical Quantum Leap Flagship Program" has invested 200 million US dollars to support the research and development of quantum simulators and quantum computers. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is collaborating with IBM to develop a 10,000-bit quantum computer, which is scheduled to be put into use in 2029. Fujitsu integrates a 256-qubit system into a hybrid quantum computing platform and opens it up to global enterprises. NTT Research, in collaboration with nine top universities and NASA Ames Research Center, promotes the application of CIM in fields such as finance and logistics. The Policy Investment Bank of Japan, in collaboration with Fujitsu, NEC and other enterprises, has established a special fund for quantum computing to support start-ups in developing quantum algorithms and quantum cloud services.

Japan's breakthrough in quantum computing will have a triple impact on the global industrial landscape. CIM technology provides a new paradigm for the commercialization of quantum computing. Its room-temperature operation feature can reduce hardware costs by more than 80%, and it is expected to be first implemented in fields such as logistics scheduling and financial risk control. Japan plans to build a new quantum chip factory in Fujitsu Science Park in 2026 to mass-produce 10,000-bit quantum processors. This will reshape the global quantum chip supply chain and challenge the market dominance of companies like IBM and Google. The quantum error correction protocol and quantum programming language led by Japan have been ISO certified. Its quantum computing cloud platform has been connected to over 2,000 enterprises, laying the foundation for the future formulation of industry technical standards.

Although Japan has made breakthroughs in the field of quantum computing, it still needs to overcome three major bottlenecks. The single-bit error rate of the 256-qubit system is still higher than 0.1%, and the error rate needs to be reduced to the order of 10^-15 through surface code error correction technology. The dedicated algorithm library for quantum computing only covers 12 fields such as chemical simulation and pricing of financial derivatives, and it is necessary to jointly build an open-source community with global developers. There is a shortage of 5,000 quantum computing engineers in Japan, and interdisciplinary talents need to be cultivated through the "Quantum Computing Apprenticeship Program".

The year 2025 May become a watershed for the industrialization of quantum computing in Japan. With the commercial application of 256-qubit superconducting systems and neutral atom prototypes, as well as the advancement of research and development of 10,000-bit CIM, Japan is expected to build the world's first quantum computing industrial cluster by 2030. Its development model of "technology diversification + industrial deepening" may provide a new paradigm reference for the global quantum computing industry.