News Summary

• Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said in March 2026 that it aims to build a domestic physical AI sector and capture a 30% share of the global market by 2040.
• A 2024 Reuters/Nikkei survey found labor shortages are the main force pushing Japanese firms to adopt AI.
• The country continues to demonstrate strength in core robotics components such as actuators, sensors, and control systems.
• The U.S. and China are moving more quickly to develop full-stack systems that integrate hardware, software, and data.