“We will be very interested in upgrading our industrial cooperation in strategic sectors like semiconductors, AI and rare earths. Takaichi has served as minister in charge of economic security previously,” he told Bernama in an exclusive interview ahead of the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits.

Malaysia, which holds the ASEAN chairmanship this year under the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability” will host the summits from Sunday (Oct 26) to Tuesday (Oct 28), which will see the participation of top leaders from the 10 ASEAN member states as well as key dialogue partners, including the United States, China and Japan.

Shikata said this in response to a recent news report quoting Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan as saying that ASEAN wants Japan to play a greater role in technology transfer and front-end semiconductor investment.

Takaichi, 64, made history as Japan’s first woman prime minister after she secured 237 votes in the 465-seat Lower House, thereby winning the parliamentary vote without the need for a runoff.

She will leave for Kuala Lumpur this evening to attend the meetings related to ASEAN and meet her Malaysian counterpart and ASEAN chair, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in bilateral talks.

The ambassador said the collaboration aligns with Japan’s new economic-security legislation framework, which emphasises protection of critical technologies and intellectual-property rights.

“For more than four decades, Japanese firms have transferred technologies to Malaysia — from Mitsubishi Motors’ early support for Proton to Daihatsu’s joint venture with Perodua — creating skilled local jobs and long-term industrial capacity,” he added.

Meanwhile, on Malaysia’s role in the semiconductor value chain, Shikata noted continued Japanese investments in Penang as the “Silicon Valley of the East” and the expansion of ROHM-Wako Electronics (M) Sdn Bhd, a major Japanese electronics maker, in Kelantan.

He said many Malaysians who studied in Japan now contribute to local universities and industries, underscoring the enduring technological and human-capital links between both nations.

The ambassador also said that green transition and energy security as the next pillar of bilateral growth, with Malaysia emerging as a model case under the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC).

Out of nearly 20 memoranda of understanding recently signed between Japan and ASEAN, about one-third involved Malaysia — including projects on biomass from palm waste, ammonia-fired power generation and carbon-capture initiatives — advancing AZEC’s objective of simultaneous decarbonisation, economic growth and energy security, he said.

Shikata also noted that Japan and Malaysia are finalising a Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) to facilitate Japanese companies’ green investments and ensure a stable energy supply between both nations.

“Possible areas for more investments include carbon capture and storage (CCS), ammonia power generation, the ASEAN Power Grid and the Petronas-Mitsubishi liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant,” he said.

He said these initiatives reflect Japan’s broader intent to co-create the economy of the future with ASEAN under Malaysia’s chairmanship.

“Prime Minister Takaichi’s main message to ASEAN is that Japan and ASEAN must become stronger and more prosperous together,” he said.

He further said that emerging collaboration in AI-driven urban-mobility solutions, citing the Japanese-developed the Mobi app piloted in Bukit Bintang and Kuala Lumpur City Centre to ease congestion through shared rides.

Shikata said Japan hopes to expand such smart-city models to other parts of Malaysia and across ASEAN, complementing the government’s Kota MADANI vision for sustainable, people-centred cities.

Just launched in September 2025 by Japanese company Nadi Willer in partnership with LaLaport BBCC, the Mobi service provides on-demand mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) using a fleet of vans and shuttles, aiming to bridge the “last-mile” connectivity gap for commuters. 

He said Japan views Malaysia as a trusted and strategic partner in advancing innovation-driven, sustainable growth in the region.

“Together with ASEAN, we are determined to co-create our economy and society of the future,” he said.

Japan has remained one of ASEAN’s largest trading partners and investors, with total two-way trade reaching US$236.4 billion last year, while Japan’s foreign direct investment to ASEAN reached nearly US$18 billion. (US$1 = RM4.22)

-- BERNAMA