TSMC JASM Kumamoto: employees evacuated after earthquake — production gradually resuming
A strong earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, prompting TSMC’s Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing (JASM) fab to activate emergency protocols and evacuate personnel. TSMC confirmed that all employees are safe, building inspections have confirmed structural integrity, and staff are gradually returning to production lines. Detailed inspections and impact assessments are ongoing.
🌍 Earthquake overview
The quake struck on the afternoon of July 28, with its epicentre in the Kumamoto region — a shallow earthquake at a depth of about 10 km. Parts of Kumamoto Prefecture experienced intensity 7, while the JASM fab location in Kikuyo‑machi recorded intensity 5+.
✅ Emergency response · gradual restart
TSMC stated that JASM activated preventive measures in line with internal safety procedures and completed personnel evacuation promptly. Post‑quake building inspections have confirmed structural safety, and production is being gradually restored.
🏗️ Fab 2 construction · unaffected, but paused
Construction of the JASM Fab 2 was not affected by the earthquake. However, due to the possibility of aftershocks, some construction work has been temporarily suspended for safety reasons and will resume depending on conditions.
🏭 JASM Fab 1 · mature nodes · limited impact
JASM Fab 1 primarily produces mature‑process chips, with a monthly capacity of about 20,000 wafers covering 28/22/16/12nm processes, mainly for CMOS image sensors and other applications. The fab accounts for a relatively small share of TSMC’s overall capacity, and the market believes the earthquake’s impact on TSMC’s overall operations is limited.
🔮 JASM Fab 2 · 3nm · 2028 target
JASM Fab 2 is still under construction and is planned to mass‑produce 3nm chips, with production expected to begin in 2028. Given the timeline, the earthquake is assessed to have limited impact on the 3nm production roadmap.
JASM was established in 2021, with TSMC holding a majority stake and other shareholders including Sony Semiconductor Solutions, Denso, and Toyota Motor. Fab 1 began construction in April 2022 and officially opened in 2024, becoming a key base for TSMC’s Japan semiconductor manufacturing footprint.