Japan Data Center Update 40: AI Growth Drives Data Center Development Beyond the Tokyo Area

Nikkei Asia reported, citing multiple unnamed sources, that NTT Data Group is finalizing an agreement to build a USD 6.3 billion data center for Anthropic in Osaka Prefecture. The proposed facility would have up to 500 MW of capacity and would be Anthropic’s first dedicated data center in Japan. The companies aim to finalize the agreement by the end of fiscal year 2026, with partial operations expected to begin in 2028. Neither company commented on the report. The project would support Anthropic’s broader compute expansion: since October last year, the company has signed agreements for at least 14.8 GW of capacity across data center facilities and cloud services.

Shikoku Electric Power plans submarine cable connection to attract data centers

Shikoku Electric Power has been selected for the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications’ (MIC) Digital Infrastructure Development Fund Subsidy Program, which aims to promote the regional decentralization of data centers and other digital infrastructure. Shikoku Electric will install a branching unit on an international submarine telecommunications cable running through the Pacific Ocean and extend a branch cable to a landing point in Anan City, Tokushima Prefecture, connecting it to Shikoku’s telecommunications network. The company aims to begin operations by the end of FY2029.

Shikoku Electric will develop the telecommunications infrastructure itself, as attracting data centers is important to increasing electricity demand in its service area. Japan’s international submarine telecommunications cable landing sites are currently concentrated in two areas: Boso in Chiba Prefecture and Shima in Mie Prefecture.

Toyama and Kansai Electric Power collaborate on local hydropower supply to attract data centers

Toyama Prefecture and Kansai Electric Power are working together to establish a framework for supplying locally generated hydropower within the prefecture, including electricity from the Kurobegawa No. 4 Power Station in Kurobe City. Most of this power has previously been transmitted to the Kansai region. The partnership aims to attract data centers through a stable supply of renewable energy and support their regional decentralization.

In September, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) selected Nanto City in Toyama Prefecture as a data center cluster location under the GX Strategic Zone System. The city is advancing a public-private data center development plan with project developer GigaStream Toyama. Operations are expected to begin in 2028 with a capacity of 300 MW. GigaStream Toyama is currently negotiating with electricity retailers over power supply.

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