Japan’s Chip Push Loses Key Advocate After Election Defeat

Liberal Democratic Party heavyweight Akira Amari’s defeat in Japan’s general election removes from parliament one of the chip sector’s biggest advocates as concerns grow over the amount of taxpayer money getting plowed into the industry.

Amari, who previously served as economy minister during his four decades as a lawmaker, had championed funneling large sums of public money into building up the country’s semiconductor capacity. He lost his seat in Kanagawa Prefecture’s 20th district to Sayuri Otsuka of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, who campaigned on a platform for more childcare and nursing care support.