Type an address to search for nearby blocks
Whitepaper
Explore More
Sign Up / Log In
Semiconductor History | Sharp Fukuyama — Game Demand Builds an Automated LSI Plant
· 1985
Personal memoryBy kevin · · Report an issue
Search by address
Search
Loading...
Highlighted Moments
Featured Memories
Find memories left by people near you.
Distribute Bounty
Total to distribute
0 MR
Qualifying memories
0
This will distribute the bounty equally among all qualifying memories. This action cannot be undone.
Cancel Bounty
Refund amount
0 MR
Are you sure you want to cancel this bounty? The remaining amount will be refunded to your account.
Success!
Operation completed successfully.
Error
Something went wrong.
Back to map
Back
This memory is part of
Semiconductor History | Sharp Fukuyama — Game Demand Builds an Automated LSI Plant
kevin
1985
Listen
Directions
Sharp’s official centennial history says a home game machine introduced by an unnamed toy manufacturer in 1983 became a major hit and drove a surge in sales of the mask-ROM chips used by it. To supply that demand, Sharp constructed the Fukuyama Plant in 1985 as a highly automated semiconductor factory using robots throughout production.
A mask ROM stores its program by fixing the pattern during chip fabrication. Once a game is finished and volumes are enormous, that makes each copy compact, fast, and cheap; the economics fit cartridges, where the silicon traveled with every title rather than remaining only inside the console.
The good was customer-led scale. Sharp converted expertise built through calculators, MOS LSIs, optoelectronics, and displays into mass production for a new entertainment market, then added Fukuyama Plant No. 2 in 1989 with finer processing technology. Automation turned a sudden consumer hit into durable manufacturing capability that later supported memory, integrated circuits, and optoelectronic devices.
The bad was rigidity. A mask error or late software change could require new tooling, unsold cartridges locked code into inventory, and demand could collapse when a title or console generation faded; expensive cleanrooms built for a boom still carried depreciation, water, chemical, and contamination-control burdens afterward. Sharp’s later reorganizations, including the 2019 semiconductor spin-off, show how a captive component advantage can become a business that must repeatedly find new owners and markets.
The pin identifies the verified Fukuyama site that Sharp says it built for this game-driven expansion. The cover is a later 1989 Game Boy board with visible Sharp memory devices and a Nintendo-marked CPU; it proves Sharp components reached game hardware, but it is not the unnamed 1983 machine, a cartridge mask ROM, or the 1985 production line.
Sources: Sharp’s 100-Year History, corporate chronology, Fukuyama map and factory reports; Nintendo corporate history and Game Boy archive.
Photo: “Nintendo Game Boy DMG-01 — board with card slot,” Raimond Spekking, CC BY-SA 4.0. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nintendo_Game_Boy_DMG-01_-_board_with_card_slot-9880.jpg
Related Memories
Memory Marks
You marked this memory as
InspiringHeartwarmingEnjoyableSolemn!
You have 0 Memory Marks left to give today
Nice work! You have given out all your memory marks today!
Come back tomorrow or own more Blox to get more daily Memory Marks!
Thank you for alerting us of this Memory. We will review within the next 24 hours.
Save to Collection
Semiconductor History | Sharp Fukuyama — Game Demand Builds an Automated LSI Plant
New Collection
No collections yet
Create one above to get started
0
Do you want to remove this memory from the collection?
Do you want to save
changes?
changes?
The changes you made have been saved
Root to Blockchain
Do you want to root this memory to IPFS with 1 Metablox Coin?
You currently have Metablox Coins
Root to Blockchain
You need 1 Metablox Coin to root this memory to IPFS.
You don't have enough Metablox Coins
Uploading to Blockchain…
Preparing your memory for IPFS. Please don't close this window.
Upload Failed
Something went wrong while connecting to IPFS. Your Metablox Coin was not deducted. Please try again later.
Push New Version
Create a new version of this memory, preserving its current state on IPFS.
Cost: 1 Metablox Coin
You currently have Metablox Coins
New Version is on its way to the Blockchain!
Your updated memory will be available on IPFS within 10 minutes.
Your Memory is on its way to the Blockchain!
You'll be able to access it on IPFS within 10 minutes.
Uploading your memories
Are you sure you want to
delete this memory?
delete this memory?
Are you sure you want to delete this memory?
Keep
Delete
Take Photo
Add your photos
Add more photos
Preview your memory
Uploading your memory
You have successfully preserved a memory!
We detected that you have a Blox in your crypto wallet! We will import the Blox into your account.
Click on done below to complete the import.
Welcome Back!
Sign in to preserve cherished moments
Don't have an account?
Welcome!!
Sign up and start preserving cherished moments
Password Recovery
Enter the email associated with your account
Check your inbox
Use the link in the email to reset your password
Would you like to level up
?
?
Cost
MetaRent
Would you like to level up
?
?
Cost
MetaRent
reached Level !!
MetaRent / day
Max Storage
Coins Earned
+
reached Level !!
MetaRent / day
Max Storage
Coins Earned
+
Add your
photos
Tell us about this
Moment
Description (Optional)
/140 characters
Where is this moment?
location
Try searching for: Golden Gate Bridge, Miami Beach, or an address.
Uploading your moment
You have successfully preserved a memory!
Your moment is now
on .
You have successfully preserved a memory!
Your moment is now
on .
Uploading
exoangel
Hidden in 91hrs
Global Blox
Aug 31, 2026
Sprouts sandwich
exoangel
Hidden in 66hrs
Global Blox
Aug 30, 2026
Sunday beach time
exoangel
Hidden in 67hrs
Global Blox
Aug 29, 2026
Weeekend scene
exoangel
Hidden in 45hrs
Global Blox
Aug 28, 2026
Feeding the birds
exoangel
Hidden in 21hrs
Global Blox
Aug 28, 2026
Shrimp fried rice
You marked this moment as
InspiringHeartwarmingEnjoyableSolemn!
You have 0 Memory Marks left to give today
Nice work! You have given out all your memory marks today!
Come back tomorrow or own more Blox to get more daily Memory Marks!
Choose your payment method
Buy with Metablox Credit
Do you want to mint Blox with Metablox Credit?
Which Crypto would you like to use?
Payment confirmed!
Your Blox is being minted on-chain. This usually takes under a minute.
Check your Metamask extension
Step 1: Click "Confirm" to give Metamask permission to access your crypto
Important: When the extension shows up, scroll down and hit "Confirm" to mint.
Important: You must change the suggested gas fee to High in order to process the transaction.
DO NOT refresh or close the page before seeing this.
We're processing your order...
This sometimes takes a few mins.
Please bear with us 💪
DO NOT refresh or close the page
Contact the Devs
We're very sorry this happened
Your transaction record has been submitted to our team. We'll solve this situation ASAP
Purchase Confirmed!
Your Blox is being minted on-chain and will appear in your profile shortly.
Log in or sign up to claim your Blox.
How many credits do you want to buy?
$100 USD = 1 Metablox Credit = 1 Blox.
Use Metablox Credit to mint any Blox you want on the map.
expand_more