U.S. quantum computing company Infleqtion says its quantum processing unit is powering Japan’s first operational full-stack quantum computer using neutral atoms, marking a step toward the country’s goal of developing larger, fault-tolerant quantum systems.
The system, called “Shunkai,” initially operates with about 50 qubits, the basic units of quantum information, and is expected to expand to about 500 qubits as development progresses, Infleqtion said.
The project is part of Japan’s Moonshot Research and Development Program, a government-backed initiative aimed at developing technologies with potentially transformative applications. Infleqtion was the sole foreign quantum company participating in the relevant Quantum Moonshot project, the company said.
“This milestone marks a pivotal moment for Japan’s quantum ambitions and Infleqtion’s role in advancing production-ready quantum platforms,” said Pranav Gokhale, chief technology officer at Infleqtion.
Quantum computers use quantum mechanical effects to process information in ways that can outperform conventional computers for certain highly specialized problems. Unlike classical bits, which represent either zero or one, qubits can exist in combinations of states, allowing quantum systems to perform certain calculations using fundamentally different methods.
Shunkai uses a neutral-atom architecture, in which individual atoms are trapped and manipulated using lasers to serve as qubits. The approach is being pursued by several quantum computing companies because it can potentially support large numbers of qubits while maintaining precise control over the atoms.
The system is being developed by researchers at the Institute for Molecular Science (IMS) in Japan under a project led by physicist Akihisa Goban and colleagues. The next phase of the Ohmori Moonshot project, which began in April 2026, is focused on improving system integration, stability and scalability, according to Infleqtion.
The longer-term objective is to develop a high-performance, fault-tolerant quantum computer with as many as 10,000 physical qubits.
That target is significant because today’s quantum computers remain susceptible to errors caused by environmental noise and imperfections in hardware. Building practical machines therefore requires quantum error correction, which uses additional physical qubits to protect information stored in logical qubits.
IMS plans to make Shunkai available to external users, potentially allowing researchers and companies to experiment with quantum algorithms, error-correction techniques and applications.
Infleqtion is providing more than the quantum processing hardware. Its Superstaq software platform is also being used to program the system and manage aspects of quantum control, the company said.
The combination of quantum hardware and software is important because operating a useful quantum computer requires more than increasing the number of qubits. Researchers must also improve the accuracy of operations, reduce errors, maintain stable connections between components and develop software capable of translating algorithms into instructions that the hardware can execute.
Infleqtion’s involvement comes as governments and technology companies in the United States, Europe and Asia increase investment in quantum computing, seeking potential applications in areas including drug discovery, materials science, optimization, financial modelling and cryptography.
Japan has made quantum technology a strategic research priority and has sought to build domestic capabilities in quantum hardware, software and related technologies.
The 50-qubit Shunkai system is therefore an intermediate milestone rather than a commercially mature, fault-tolerant quantum computer. Its planned expansion to about 500 qubits and the longer-term 10,000-physical-qubit target reflect the broader industry effort to move from laboratory demonstrations toward scalable quantum machines.
The project also aims to provide researchers with access to the system, potentially accelerating development of quantum error correction and applications while giving Japan a platform on which to test larger-scale neutral-atom architectures.
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Faustine Ngila is the AI Editor at Impact Newswire, based in Nairobi, Kenya. He is an award-winning journalist specializing in artificial intelligence, blockchain, and emerging technologies.
He previously worked as a global technology reporter at Quartz in New York and Digital Frontier in London, where he covered innovation, startups, and the global digital economy.
With years of experience reporting on cutting-edge technologies, Faustine focuses on AI developments, industry trends, and the impact of technology on society.
