Japan’s Full-Stack Neutral-Atom Quantum Computer Is Operational

Insider Brief

• Japan’s Institute for Molecular Science has begun operating Shunkai, the country’s first full-stack neutral-atom quantum computer, integrating hardware and software in a system initially using about 50 qubits.
• Developed with Hitachi and Infleqtion under Japan’s Moonshot R&D Program, Shunkai uses laser-controlled neutral atoms as qubits and is expected to scale to about 500 qubits while supporting external research and quantum error-correction development.
• The project aims to expand the platform to 10,000 physical qubits with quantum error detection and correction capabilities by March 2031, with plans to make the system available to outside users.
• Image: Japan’s first full-stack neutral-atom quantum computer “Shunkai”. (Photo: Takafumi Tomita)

PRESS RELEASE — Institute for Molecular Science (IMS), National Institutes of Natural Sciences, announced on Aug. 24 that Japan’s first full-stack neutral-atom quantum computer “Shunkai,” developed by a research team led by Professor Kenji Ohmori, is now operational.

Quantum computers are being developed in various modalities worldwide. However, there remain challenges to address for their practical applications, such as scalability and error correction during computation.