The development of computers in Japan

Japan's research and development of computers began in the 1940's. However, Japanese production of commercial computers started a decade after the U.S. production did. Since then the computer industry has developed into the most rapidly growing industry in Japan. Thirty-nine thousand computers were installed as of the end of 1976. This is second in the world after the United States. It is difficult to cover all the computer industry and its R&D activities. The aim of this paper is to give a brief review of Japanese computer technology, with a short historical background, and a description of present status and some ongoing developments.