When Sharp’s new Sakai manufacturing complex comes on stream this year, it will be a model of Japan’s advanced production techniques.

Built on 314 waterfront acres in Sharp’s home city of Osaka, the complex will make solar panels and liquid crystal display panels from pieces of glass bigger than those used by any other plant in the world. Sharp’s total investment will be more than Y450bn ($4.4bn); investments by on-site component suppliers will make the numbers even higher.