The Sankei Shimbun 
A 256-qubit superconducting quantum computer, one of the world's largest, unveiled on April 22 at RIKEN in Wako City, Saitama Prefecture. (©Sankei by Takumi Kamoshida)
On April 22, Fujitsu and RIKEN announced that they have developed a new superconducting quantum computer. At 256 qubits (a measure of computational power), it is one of the largest in the world. The companies unveiled the machine at RIKEN's facility in Wako City, Saitama Prefecture.
The new system marks a significant step forward. It has four times the qubits of Japan's first domestic quantum computer, launched in 2023, which had 64 qubits. Now it is set to become available to companies and research institutions by June 2025.
Outpacing Supercomputers
Quantum computers are expected to solve highly complex problems that are difficult even for today's supercomputers. Competition has intensified globally over which method — using light, atoms, or other materials — can best achieve this. Many see the superconducting approach as leading the field. It involves circuits cooled to extremely low temperatures, and companies like Google are also pursuing this approach.
Although some experimental setups have exceeded 256 qubits, this machine ranks among the largest in the world that the public can access and use. Sato, a Fellow at Fujitsu Research and head of the Quantum Laboratory, commented, "This will allow many users to experiment simultaneously."
Full Operation Next Fiscal Year
Fujitsu plans to build a machine with over 1,000 qubits at its new Quantum Building, currently under construction in Kawasaki City. Plans call for the company to begin offering the service within the 2026 fiscal year.
However, quantum computers are inherently prone to computational errors. To make them practical, error correction technologies are essential. The increase in qubit count will likely accelerate this research.
Yasunobu Nakamura, Director of RIKEN's Center for Quantum Computing, praised the development, saying, "This is an important milestone on the path toward realizing practical quantum computers at scale."
RELATED:
- INTERVIEW | The Next Step for Japan's Quantum Computers with Yasunobu Nakamura
- First Domestic Quantum Computer Starts Operating on March 27, Opening a New Path for Japan
(Read the article in Japanese.)
Author: The Sankei Shimbun
