Semiconductors, bears and trains were just some of the major news topics in Hokkaido this past year, and are expected to continue to dominate local news coverage in 2025. Here¡¯s a brief rundown of all three.

Rapidus moved forward this year with what will be the world¡¯s first foundry producing 2-nanometer semiconductor chips. , and the latter half of 2024 saw preparations accelerate.

In August, Hokkaido Gov. Naomichi Suzuki visited IBM, which developed the technology, in New York along with a delegation of Hokkaido business officials and Rapidus executives. He also signed with New York state to deepen links between Rapidus and NY Creates¡¯ Albany NanoTech Complex, the largest nonprofit semiconductor research and development facility of its kind in the U.S.