From Samurai to Semiconductors: How Global Learning Shaped Japan’s Past, Taiwan’s Present, and the World’s Future

Fukuzawa Yukichi is a towering figure in Japanese history. Born in 1835 in Osaka, he was a samurai by birth but became one of Japan’s most influential thinkers during the Meiji Restoration. Known as a champion of modernization and intellectual reform, he spent time in the United States and Europe in the 1860s—an experience that profoundly shaped his worldview. His influence was so profound that his face appears on the 10,000 yen bill, symbolizing his role in Japan’s transformation. His writings urged Japan to break from feudal traditions and embrace Western science, education, and democratic ideals.

Among his most influential works is the book 學問のすすめ (Gakumon no Susume, An Encouragement of Learning), published beginning in 1872. This book sold over 3 million copies—an extraordinary number at the time—and became a cultural touchstone. In it, Fukuzawa argued that education was the foundation of personal independence and national strength. He famously declared:

This line encapsulated his core belief that progress must be rooted in merit, not birthright.

In 1858, he also founded Keio University, Japan’s first private institute of higher education focused on Western learning. Through this institution and his popular writings, Fukuzawa promoted science, reason, and practical knowledge, inspiring generations of Japanese citizens to innovate and adapt.

But Fukuzawa’s influence wasn’t limited to schools and books. His ideas fueled a cultural shift that encouraged the founding of early small and mid-sized enterprises in Japan. For example:

• Private printing presses began publishing Western-style textbooks and scientific journals.

• Machinery import businesses brought in tools and techniques from Europe and the U.S., enabling local manufacturing.

Translation bureaus formed to help Japanese professionals understand foreign patents and technologies.

These humble ventures became the roots of Japan’s industrial and entrepreneurial ecosystem. In many ways, Fukuzawa created the intellectual and practical infrastructure for a startup economy before such a term existed.

Taiwan Echoes That Legacy

Fast forward to the late 20th century, and a similar story unfolds in Taiwan. A Chip Odyssey is a documentary film that captures how Taiwan’s government and the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) launched an ambitious initiative in the 1970s and 80s: sending engineers to RCA in the United States to master the complex processes of semiconductor manufacturing.

Much like Fukuzawa’s students who studied abroad and returned to build a new Japan, these Taiwanese engineers came back with more than skills—they returned with a vision. What followed was the creation of Taiwan’s first chip foundries, and ultimately, TSMC, now the world’s most advanced semiconductor manufacturer. The film shows how a strategy of “learn from the best, then innovate at home” changed Taiwan’s destiny and positioned it at the center of the global tech supply chain.

Today, the spirit of global learning that once fueled Japan’s modernization and Taiwan’s chip revolution continues to thrive. On July 24, 2025, ITRI's Taiwan Demo Day in Menlo Park showcased a new wave of startups that echo the bold, outward-facing mindset seen in A Chip Odyssey. Much like the early Taiwanese engineers who trained at RCA to build a homegrown semiconductor industry, these founders are not merely chasing trends—they’re absorbing Silicon Valley's best culture and reshaping with their own unique vision.

Each startup that took the stage embodied the same courage, curiosity, and sense of national purpose that defined Fukuzawa Yukichi’s era. But while the Meiji-era thinkers and Taiwan’s 1980s engineers were trying to catch up to the industrial West, today’s Taiwanese innovators are building from a position of global leadership. They’re no longer just learning from the world—they’re actively collaborating with, influencing, and even leading it.

In essence, Taiwan Demo Day wasn’t just a showcase of products—it was a mirror of a mindset: that innovation happens fastest when we stay open to the world, learn without fear, and build with both local pride and global vision. It’s a continuation of the same learning journey that Fukuzawa sparked over a century ago—and the same engineering ambition that transformed Taiwan into the heart of the AI era.

As ITRI Director Erica Lin said during the event:

Full Circle in Silicon Valley

So as A Chip Odyssey comes to Mountain View on November 2, 2025, brought to you by Sparknify, it’s more than just a film. It’s a reflection on how visionaries like Fukuzawa paved the way for today’s chip pioneers—and how Taiwan has continued that tradition with remarkable clarity and courage.

This screening isn’t just for engineers or historians—it’s for anyone who believes in the power of learning, bold thinking, and international collaboration. It’s a story that bridges past and future, East and West, Japan and Taiwan, innovation and identity.

🎥 Don’t miss it.

A Chip Odyssey Silicon Valley Special Screening

Nov 02, 2025

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Mountain View

2575 California St Suite 99, Mt. View, CA 94040

A Chip Odyssey is a must-see story of how bold ideas—and bold investments in education—can ripple across generations.