When searching for SSDs or microSD cards on Amazon or at electronics retailers, you may have noticed the “KIOXIA” brand more frequently.
Many of you might have questions like, “Which country is Kioxia from?”, “I’ve heard of it, but can I trust it?”, or “It seems to be related to Toshiba, but how?”
In this article, we thoroughly investigated Kioxia, from its headquarters location to its company history, technological capabilities, product lineup, and reliability.
Author of this article: "Mr. Gadget"
- Studied under Masatoshi Ono, a million-selling singer who has performed at Kohaku Uta Gassen
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Nice to meet you!
Conclusion: Kioxia is a Japanese company
Kioxia is a Japanese flash memory manufacturer headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo.
Originally Toshiba’s memory business division, it was spun off as “Toshiba Memory Corporation” in 2017. In 2019, its name was changed to “Kioxia.” It is the world’s third-largest company in NAND flash memory, with approximately 14% global market share, following Samsung and SK Hynix.
Ms. GadgetI’ve been seeing Kioxia a lot lately, but which country is it from?
Mr. GadgetKioxia is a Japanese manufacturer. It’s a company that took over Toshiba’s memory business and boasts the third-largest global market share in the NAND flash memory market. It also listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market in December 2024.
Below is Kioxia’s basic information.
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Official Name | KIOXIA Corporation |
| Holding Company | KIOXIA Holdings Corporation |
| Established | April 1, 2017 (Spun off as Toshiba Memory) |
| Name Change | October 1, 2019 (Renamed to “KIOXIA”) |
| Headquarters Location | Tamachi Station Tower S, 3-1-21 Shibaura, Minato-ku, Tokyo |
| Representative Director | President and Representative Director (as of end of March 2025) |
| Number of Employees | Approx. 15,000 (consolidated, as of end of March 2025) |
| Revenue | 1,706.5 billion JPY (consolidated, FY2025) |
| Listing Market | Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market (Listed December 18, 2024) |
| Major Shareholders | Toshiba / Bain Capital-affiliated funds / HOYA (Shareholding ratios of each company are subject to change after listing) |
| Main Manufacturing Sites | Yokkaichi Plant (Mie Prefecture) / Kitakami Plant (Iwate Prefecture) |
| Origin of Company Name | Japanese “Kioku” (memory) + Greek “axia” (value) |
Ms. GadgetSo, it’s listed on the TSE Prime Market. That gives me a sense of security.
Mr. GadgetYes. Being listed on the TSE Prime Market means that disclosure of financial information and audits by external auditing firms are mandatory. It can be said that the company has high transparency.
Kioxia Company Profile
Kioxia is a semiconductor manufacturer with NAND flash memory as its core business. It offers a wide range of data storage products, including SSDs, microSD cards, and USB flash drives. Here, we will examine its company size and market position.
Kioxia’s Basic Information and Company Scale
Kioxia is a company that was born in 2017 when Toshiba’s memory business was spun off. The company name “KIOXIA” is a coined word combining the Japanese “Kioku” (memory) and the Greek “axia” (value), embodying the corporate vision of “making the world more interesting with memory.”
Consolidated revenue is 1,706.5 billion JPY (FY2025), with approximately 15,000 employees (consolidated). It is one of Japan’s leading semiconductor manufacturers.
On December 18, 2024, it was listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market. The IPO price was 1,455 JPY, and the initial listing plan was scheduled for 2020 but was repeatedly postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and fluctuations in the semiconductor market, finally materializing after approximately four years.
Ms. GadgetIt’s a company with over 1 trillion JPY in revenue. How large is it as a semiconductor manufacturer?
Mr. GadgetIt is a world-class manufacturer specializing in flash memory. While Samsung and SK Hynix are integrated semiconductor manufacturers, Kioxia is characterized by its specialization in NAND flash memory.
Market Share in NAND Flash Memory
Kioxia’s greatest strength is its position as the world’s third-largest market shareholder in NAND flash memory.
It holds approximately 14% of the global market share based on 2024 shipments, ranking after Samsung and SK Hynix (according to Morningstar, TrendForce). Further market share expansion is anticipated from 2025 onwards, driven by demand from AI and data centers.
NAND flash memory is a core component supporting modern information society, used in SSDs, smartphones, data centers, and more. Kioxia plays a crucial role in this global supply chain.
Ms. GadgetWorld’s 3rd largest share is impressive. Who are the 1st and 2nd?
Mr. GadgetThe 1st is Samsung Electronics (South Korea), and the 2nd is SK Hynix (South Korea). These top three companies, along with Micron (USA), account for over 70% of the NAND flash memory market. Kioxia is the only Japanese company among the top four.
Main Product Lineup
Kioxia offers a wide range of products, from consumer to enterprise. Its main brand is the “EXCERIA” series.
SSD (Solid State Drive)
- EXCERIA PRO SSD (PCIe 4.0 compatible, up to 2TB) — For high-performance desktops and laptops
- EXCERIA G2 SSD (M.2 2280, max read 2,100MB/s) — For mid-range users
- EXCERIA BASIC SSD (PCIe 4.0, max read 7,300MB/s, up to 2TB) — Entry model
- EXCERIA PLUS Portable SSD (max read 1,050MB/s, shock-resistant design) — For on-the-go and creators
microSD / SD Card
- EXCERIA (max read 100MB/s, up to 256GB) — For smartphones and tablets
- EXCERIA PLUS G2 (up to 2TB, V30/U3 compatible) — For 4K video recording
- EXCERIA HIGH ENDURANCE (up to approx. 40,000 hours continuous recording) — For surveillance cameras and dashcams
USB Flash Drive / Enterprise
- TransMemory Series — Available in various capacities and USB 3.2 compatible models
- Enterprise SSD — High-durability models for data centers and servers
Ms. GadgetThe EXCERIA series has many types. Which is more popular, SSDs or microSD cards?
Mr. GadgetFor individual consumers, microSD cards have higher recognition and are often chosen, especially for Nintendo Switch and dashcam use. On the other hand, the EXCERIA SSD series is gaining popularity for custom PC builds and laptop upgrades.
Kioxia’s History and Reliability
We will examine Kioxia’s journey to establish its position as a global semiconductor manufacturer and its reliability based on its technological capabilities.
From Toshiba Memory to Kioxia: History
Kioxia’s history dates back to Toshiba’s memory business. A chronological overview is as follows:
- 1987: Toshiba’s Fujio Masuoka invents NAND flash memory, presenting it at the IEEE International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM).
- 1999~: Toshiba begins joint manufacturing of flash memory with SanDisk (now Western Digital), jointly operating the Yokkaichi Plant.
- April 2017: Following Toshiba’s financial crisis, the memory business is spun off, becoming independent as “Toshiba Memory Corporation.”
- June 2018: A Japan-U.S.-South Korea consortium led by Bain Capital acquires approximately 2 trillion JPY worth of Toshiba Memory shares (Toshiba retains approx. 40%).
- October 2019: Company name changed to “Kioxia Corporation.”
- 2020: Listing on the TSE planned but postponed due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Autumn 2022: Production begins at Fab 7 (Y7), the new manufacturing facility at the Yokkaichi Plant.
- February 2024: Japanese government approves subsidies of up to 150 billion JPY for the Yokkaichi and Kitakami Plants.
- December 18, 2024: Listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market (Stock Code: 285A).
Ms. GadgetSo it was a company spun off from Toshiba’s memory business. Why was it spun off?
Mr. GadgetThe primary reason was Toshiba’s accounting scandal, which came to light in 2015. Facing a financial crisis, Toshiba needed to secure funds by selling its most profitable memory business. Although it was eventually sold to the Bain Capital consortium, Toshiba also retained approximately 40% of the shares at the time of listing (this percentage is gradually changing after listing).
Technological Capability: Inventor of NAND Flash Memory
At the core of Kioxia’s technological prowess is the lineage of Toshiba’s technology, which invented NAND flash memory itself.
NAND flash memory, invented by Toshiba’s Fujio Masuoka in 1987, became the foundational technology supporting modern SSDs, smartphones, and data centers. Kioxia directly inherits the technological assets of its inventor.
Kioxia’s current key technologies are as follows:
| Technology | Overview |
|---|---|
| BiCS FLASH™ | Kioxia’s 3D NAND flash memory technology brand. Achieves higher density, performance, and power efficiency by vertically stacking memory cells. |
| 8th Generation BiCS FLASH | Achieves 218 layers of stacking. Uses CBA (CMOS Directly Bonded to Array) technology to bond circuits and cell arrays after manufacturing them on separate wafers. |
| OPS Technology | On Pitch Select Gate. Eliminates conventional dummy areas, improving memory cell density. |
| TLC / QLC | Technology that stores 3 bits (TLC) / 4 bits (QLC) per cell. Contributes to higher capacity. |
In 2007, Kioxia announced the world’s first 3D flash memory (BiCS FLASH), making it a pioneer in 3D NAND technology.
Ms. GadgetSo it’s a company in the lineage of the inventor of NAND flash memory. That sounds highly reliable.
Mr. GadgetYes. Its technical lineage as the inventor of flash memory and a pioneer in 3D NAND technology is a major strength for Kioxia. The latest 8th generation BiCS FLASH achieves 218 layers of stacking, demonstrating its continued position at the forefront of technological development.
Quality Control System and Manufacturing Sites
Kioxia’s NAND flash memory is manufactured at its own plants in Japan. The two main sites are as follows:
Yokkaichi Plant (Yokkaichi City, Mie Prefecture)
It is one of the world’s largest flash memory manufacturing plants. Operated as a joint venture with Western Digital (formerly SanDisk), its latest manufacturing facility, Fab 7 (Y7), began operations in the autumn of 2022. It is also working on optimizing production efficiency using AI technology.
Kitakami Plant (Kitakami City, Iwate Prefecture)
This is the second main site after the Yokkaichi Plant, also a joint venture with Western Digital (formerly SanDisk). In February 2024, the Japanese government approved subsidies of up to 150 billion JPY for both the Yokkaichi and Kitakami plants.
Ms. GadgetSo, it’s manufactured in Japan. What about quality?
Mr. GadgetThe integrated manufacturing system at domestic plants is a significant advantage in terms of quality control. Semiconductor manufacturing directly correlates with the cleanliness of the cleanroom environment and the precision of process management, so managing all processes at its own plants leads to high reliability.
Summary: Can Kioxia be trusted?
Kioxia is a Japanese semiconductor manufacturer that directly inherits the technological lineage of Toshiba, the inventor of NAND flash memory. Its achievement as the world’s third-largest market shareholder, its transparency as a TSE Prime-listed company, and its integrated manufacturing system at its own plants in Japan all attest to the quality and reliability of its products.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Inherits technology from the inventor of NAND flash memory (Toshiba) | Brand recognition among general consumers does not match Samsung or SanDisk |
| Achievements as the world’s 3rd largest NAND market shareholder | Operating loss of 252.7 billion JPY in FY2024 (due to market downturn. Operating profit expected to recover in FY2025) |
| TSE Prime-listed company (high financial transparency) | Listing was delayed by approximately 4 years from the initial plan |
| Integrated manufacturing at domestic plants in Japan (Yokkaichi and Kitakami) | Samsung and Micron dominate the enterprise SSD market |
| Cutting-edge BiCS FLASH 218-layer (8th generation) technology | |
| Over 20 years of joint venture experience with Western Digital (SanDisk) |
Kioxia is especially recommended for:
- Those who want to choose Japanese-made SSDs or microSD cards
- Those who seek quality backed by the technology of the original inventor of NAND flash memory
- Those looking for high-endurance microSD cards for dashcams or surveillance cameras
- Those looking for reliable SSDs for custom PC builds or laptop upgrades
If you’re interested, please check out Kioxia’s EXCERIA series on Amazon or at your local electronics retailer.
Key points of this article!
- Kioxia is a Japanese flash memory manufacturer headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo
- Toshiba’s memory business spun off (2017), renamed to “KIOXIA” in 2019
- NAND flash memory global market share approx. 14% (3rd place)
- Listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market in December 2024 (Stock Code: 285A)
- Possesses cutting-edge 3D NAND technology with BiCS FLASH (218 layers)
- Manufactures NAND flash memory at its own plants in Japan (Yokkaichi and Kitakami)
Thank you for reading until the end!
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This article was originally written in Japanese and has been translated.
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