Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's whirlwind two-day visit to Tokyo on July 15 and 16 signals a strategic pivot: the company is betting heavily on physical AI, with Japan's industrial giants as key partners. The trip, which followed a keynote in Taiwan and a visit to South Korea, yielded deals spanning the country's entire tech ecosystem. Main Developments Huang secured agreements for a national AI factory, partnerships with leading robotics companies, and deals with chip-material suppliers that power Nvidia's next-generation AI chips. The message was clear: Nvidia is targeting Japan's factory floor, and many of the country's biggest manufacturers are joining in. "AI's next chapter belongs to factory floors, robots, and machines," Huang said, urging Japan to build it. The deals cover three main projects: a national AI factory, robotics collaborations, and chip-supplier agreements. Read also: Why Christopher Nolan Sees AI as a Modern Trojan Horse Background Thirty years ago, a $5 million investment from Sega helped keep a near-bankrupt Nvidia afloat. Today, the relationship has reversed: Nvidia now holds the leverage, and Japan's industrial giants need its AI chips to modernize their factories. This visit builds on Huang's earlier trip to South Korea months ago and his Taiwan keynote weeks earlier, forming a broader Asian strategy. Why It Matters Japan's manufacturing sector—home to robotics leaders like Fanuc and Yaskawa—is ripe for AI-driven automation. Nvidia's push into physical AI could accelerate the adoption of smart factories, where machines learn and adapt in real time. For Japan, it's a chance to reclaim its edge in manufacturing; for Nvidia, it's a foothold in the next wave of AI beyond data centers. What's Next The three projects—the national AI factory, robotics partnerships, and chip-supplier deals—are expected to roll out over the coming months, though no specific timeline was announced. Huang's visit leaves open questions about how Nvidia will balance its growing ties with Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan amid geopolitical tensions.