(Image courtesy: QIQB, Osaka University)
Japan has launched the first quantum computer developed and assembled using domestic components. The system is ready to operate at its base at the Center for Quantum Information and Quantum Biology (QIQB) at Osaka University.
The new system, which went into operation on July 28, will replace all previously imported components with domestic technology, Osaka University officials said. It will also run on open-source software developed in Japan called Open Quantum Toolchain for Operators and Users (OQTOPUS).
The system uses a quantum chip with superconducting qubits — quantum bits made from metals that have zero electrical resistance when cooled to temperatures close to absolute zero (minus 459.67 degrees Fahrenheit or minus 273.15 degrees Celsius). The quantum processing unit (QPU) was developed at the Japanese research institute RIKEN.
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Other components that make up the “chandelier” – the main body of the quantum computer – include the chip housing supplied by Seiken, a magnetic shield, infrared filters, bandpass filters, a low-noise amplifier and various cables.
All of these are housed in a dilution refrigerator (a special cryogenic device that cools the quantum computing components), which allows for extremely low temperatures to be maintained. The package also includes a pulse tube refrigerator (which in turn cools the various components used), controllers, and a low-noise power supply.
OQTOPUS, in turn, is an open-source toolkit that includes everything needed to run quantum programs. It includes a core and a cloud module, as well as graphical user interface (GUI) elements, and is designed to run on a quantum processing unit (QPU) and quantum control hardware.
The New Frontier of Computing
Quantum computing has the potential to outperform the world's fastest supercomputers and solve problems by performing calculations and simulations far beyond the capabilities of today's technology. Scientists suggest that quantum computers could be useful for developing drugs, optimizing urban traffic flows, and finding optimal delivery routes for logistics companies, among many other tasks.
This is because it can process calculations in parallel rather than sequentially, using the strange laws of quantum mechanics. The idea is that the more qubits you add to a system, the more powerful it becomes.
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However, there are many obstacles to simply adding qubits to quantum computers — in particular, scientists are trying to solve the problem of extremely high error rates that occur during calculations. For this reason, most research is currently focused on quantum error correction (QEC).
Japan's first quantum computer was unveiled at Expo 2025, which took place in Osaka from August 14 to 20. At the expo, organizers showcased key components of the quantum computer. Visitors could remotely connect to the system via the cloud and run basic quantum programs. The exhibit also included interactive elements that allowed visitors to explore quantum entanglement and other quantum phenomena.
TOPICS Japan
Keumars Afifi-Sabet, channel editor, technology
Kumars is the Technology Editor at Live Science. His writing has appeared in a variety of publications, including ITPro, The Week Digital, ComputerActive, The Independent, The Observer, Metro and TechRadar Pro. He has been working as a technology journalist for over five years, previously serving as the Features Editor at ITPro. He is NCTJ qualified and holds a degree in Biomedical Science from Queen Mary, University of London. He is also a Foundation Chartered Manager with the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), achieving his Level 3 Team Leader qualification with Distinction in 2023.
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