Jensen Huang, Nvidia's CEO, is finally visiting Japan on July 15 after facing criticism for skipping the country while touring South Korea and Taiwan. The visit centers on a milestone celebration of Nvidia's 30-year partnership with Japanese gaming company Sega, a relationship that literally saved Nvidia from bankruptcy in the mid-1990s.

Why Did Huang Skip Japan in the First Place?

The "Japan Passing" controversy emerged after Huang visited South Korea in October 2025 and again in June 2026, meeting with major memory chip makers like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, followed by a Taiwan visit. Japan was conspicuously absent from his itinerary, prompting Japanese media outlets like The Nikkei to question whether the country was being sidelined in the global artificial intelligence race.

Analysts pointed out that while Japan excels in semiconductor materials, components, and equipment, it lacks companies that directly compete with Nvidia or collaborate on cutting-edge AI infrastructure. Previous announcements of joint AI semiconductor development with Fujitsu and AI-equipped robot work with FANUC were viewed as limited in scope. The concern was that Japan risked becoming a mere supplier rather than a true partner in the AI revolution, unlike South Korea and Taiwan, whose status has been elevated.

What's the Historical Connection Between Nvidia and Sega?

The Nvidia-Sega relationship dates back to 1995, when Nvidia released its first graphics chip, the NV1, which featured a port for Sega's home console, the Sega Saturn. The two companies began joint development of the NV2 graphics chip for next-generation consoles, but the project faced serious difficulties and was halted.

At that critical moment, Huang visited Shoichiro Irimajiri, then vice president of Sega, to admit the judgment error and request that Sega convert its $5 million payment (despite contract non-fulfillment) into a private stock investment. Irimajiri persuaded Sega's board to approve the rescue investment. With those funds, Nvidia developed the RIVA 128 in 1997, achieving commercial success and eventually going public in 1999.

Sega sold its stake shortly after Nvidia's IPO for approximately $15 million, recouping three times its investment. Huang has noted that if Sega had held onto its stake until now, it would be worth roughly $1 trillion.

What Will Huang Announce at the Tokyo Event?

The July 15 event in Tokyo's Akihabara district will feature Nvidia executives and key figures from both companies, including Sega CEO Harunori Satomi, former president Shoichiro Irimajiri, and Yu Suzuki, the developer of "Virtua Fighter." Huang is expected to personally introduce two major products:

• RTX Spark: Nvidia's next-generation PC artificial intelligence chip that combines AI computing and graphics capabilities, targeting both AI model and service development as well as gaming simultaneously.
• DGX Spark: A personal AI supercomputer equipped with a 20-core Arm processor designed for advanced computing tasks.
• GeForce RTX 5090 Founders Edition: The latest graphics card, which will be featured in a raffle for invited guests.

These product announcements extend the AI ecosystem strategy that Huang showcased at Taiwan's Computex 2026 in May and during his South Korea visit last month.

How Could This Visit Reshape Japan's AI Position?

The industry is closely watching whether Huang's Tokyo visit will serve as a catalyst for expanding Nvidia's cooperation with Japan's semiconductor and AI ecosystem. The key question is whether Japan can use this opportunity to strengthen its position within the AI supply chain, moving beyond being a supplier to becoming a strategic partner like South Korea and Taiwan.

Huang himself has reflected on the importance of Sega's early support. During a commencement speech at Carnegie Mellon University in May, he recalled that period, stating that "Mr. Irimajiri's approval made me realize early on that the position of CEO is not about power but about the responsibility to keep the company alive".

The visit addresses broader concerns about Japan's competitive standing in the AI revolution. While the country remains strong in materials and equipment, it needs direct partnerships with leading AI infrastructure companies to ensure it doesn't fall behind in the race for AI dominance. This Tokyo event may signal the beginning of deeper collaboration between Nvidia and Japan's tech ecosystem, potentially opening doors for other Japanese companies to participate more actively in the global AI supply chain.