Japan's Kyushu considers own spin to Taiwan's chip megapark

FUKUOKA, Japan -- A plan to turn the Japanese island of Kyushu into a semiconductor industry hub is picking up steam as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. builds a second plant there, though logistical hurdles are seen preventing the construction of a single, supersized industrial park like in Taiwan.

Dubbed Taiwan's Silicon Valley, Hsinchu Science Park is a sprawling industrial park about an hour and a half by train and bus from central Taipei. Waves of workers make their way each day to large-scale fabs there operated by TSMC and other leading chipmakers.