This article is written in English for international readers.
As of December 2025, my financial assets amount to roughly 100,000 USD.
Facing unemployment in 2026, and dealing with depression and developmental challenges that make continued work difficult, I see the returns from these assets as a lifeline and pursue the possibility of FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early).
Originally, I planned to concentrate my investments next year’s Japanese tax-free investment allowance (NISA growth investment quota, approximately 2 million yen of the 2.4 million yen available) in NVIDIA and Broadcom, aiming to capture the strong growth of AI-related stocks.
However, one day, a thought struck me: “Isn’t the most powerful entity really the companies that actually manufacture semiconductors?”
With this question, I asked xAI’s Grok about the investment appeal of TSMC.
TSMC is not part of the S&P500 or NASDAQ100, making it relatively low-profile in index investing. But for that very reason, I saw it as a unique addition to my portfolio.
Grok’s response was enlightening.
TSMC possesses overwhelming technological capability and market dominance, serving as the core manufacturer for most AI chips, including those for NVIDIA and Broadcom.
In 2025, its performance has remained robust: advanced process nodes (below 3nm) account for about 90% of production, primarily on Taiwan’s home soil.
At the same time, Grok clearly highlighted geopolitical risks.
Previously, I only had a vague understanding of what a crisis in Taiwan could mean: a disruption in semiconductor supply could seriously damage the global AI industry and stock markets.
However, after reviewing the details, the impact was far greater than I had imagined. Bloomberg and RAND Corporation simulations suggest that a major event could cause global GDP to drop by roughly 10%, and semiconductor shortages could stall the economy for several years.
This is no longer just an investment risk—it directly concerns my survival.
I gradually realized that my fate is closely tied to the peace and stability of Taiwan.
In the past, I believed that my life was intertwined with the fate of big American tech companies; that connection to a powerful nation gave a certain sense of security.
Now, I understand that the reality is more complex. The core of semiconductor manufacturing lies in Taiwan—a small yet crucial island—and my lifeline is intimately connected here. This realization was shocking.
I majored in Chinese literature at university and spent a year and a half studying in mainland China.
If I were to live abroad again, Taiwan has always been my dream.
I never imagined that through investing, I would form such a profound shared fate with Taiwan.
Rational investors might adjust their portfolios at this point, increase diversification to reduce risk, and shift toward global markets or more stable assets.
That is undoubtedly a reasonable choice.
Yet I choose to continue, even considering purchasing a portion of TSMC shares within next year’s tax-free allowance.
This decision stems from my extremely unique situation—difficulty in continuing work and the need to pursue maximum possible returns.
It is by no means general advice; readers should not imitate this.
Through this article, I want to convey to friends in Taiwan: a distant, ordinary investor in Japan can profoundly feel a connection to Taiwan.
Taiwan’s semiconductor industry not only underpins global technological progress but also silently influences the future of individuals like me.
This quiet sense of solidarity may bring a small surprise and warmth.
Sharing a destiny with this close yet distant neighbor is my personal life choice and decision.
Finally, I sincerely pray for Taiwan’s peace and prosperity.
May the prosperity brought by the semiconductor industry endure, safeguarding this land and its people for the long term.
This article is based solely on my personal experience and opinions and does not constitute investment advice. Please invest responsibly and assess risks fully.
Thank you for reading this article.
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