Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang visits Tokyo on Wednesday to attend a ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of Nvidia's partnership with Japanese game company Sega. [Getty Images]
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang visits Tokyo on Wednesday to attend a ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of Nvidia's partnership with Japanese game company Sega. [Getty Images]

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang on Wednesday called SK hynix's listing of American depositary receipts on the NASDAQ "incredibly successful."

Huang made the remarks at an event in Akihabara, Tokyo, celebrating the 30th anniversary of Nvidia's partnership with Japanese game company Sega.

Responding to a question from Yonhap about the ADR listing, Huang said he was "very pleased" with the outcome.

SK hynix is a key Nvidia partner, supplying high-bandwidth memory chips — a critical component in AI semiconductors. Capital inflows from the ADR listing are expected to benefit Nvidia's AI ecosystem as well.

Huang also said he plans to announce a large-scale AI cooperation deal with the Japanese government on Thursday. He said "tomorrow marks the starting point of AI in Japan," adding that he plans to announce wide-ranging partnerships with major Japanese companies in AI and robotics.

Huang appears to have been preparing AI cooperation initiatives with the cabinet of Takaichi Sanae, who has been pushing to broaden AI adoption, as well as with major Japanese manufacturers. His visit comes after he drew criticism for passing over Japan despite making two recent trips to South Korea.

At the Sega anniversary event, Huang met with Sega CEO Satomichi Harunori, former president Irimajiri Shoichiro and "Virtua Fighter" creator Suzuki Yu, crediting Japan's pioneering work in 3D graphics as foundational to both Nvidia and modern AI technology.

He also shared the story of a $5 million investment Nvidia received from Sega in the mid-1990s, early in the company's history, saying it helped pull Nvidia back from the brink of bankruptcy and expressing gratitude for that lifeline.


eyre@heraldcorp.com