Microsoft will invest $10 billion in Japan in the field of artificial intelligence.

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Microsoft announced that it will invest about $10 billion in Japan between 2026 and 2029 to expand artificial intelligence infrastructure, strengthen cybersecurity cooperation, and cultivate talent, marking the company's largest strategic investment in Japan to date, and an important extension of its global AI strategy.

According to Reuters, Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith visited Tokyo on April 3rd and met with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, officially announcing this investment plan totaling approximately 1.6 trillion yen. Microsoft states that the initiative aligns closely with Takaichi's policy goals to promote economic growth and guarantee national security through advanced technology, and will ensure data is processed within Japan, safeguarding data sovereignty.

Following the announcement, Japanese internet infrastructure service provider Sakura Internet’s share price surged over 20% during trading. SoftBank Corp. and SoftBank Group also rose by 1.02% and 0.22% respectively.

Microsoft also announced it will work with local partners, including Sakura Internet and SoftBank, to provide AI computing resources within Japan, and will collaborate with five major Japanese IT companies to train one million AI professionals by 2030 in response to Japan’s increasingly prominent digital talent gap.

Local Computing Cooperation: Centered on Data Sovereignty

According to Microsoft, the company has begun discussions with Sakura Internet and SoftBank on expanding AI computing facilities in Japan. Sakura Internet provides internet infrastructure services based on local data centers, while SoftBank is a major telecommunications operator in Japan. Together, they will provide AI computing resources for the collaboration project, including graphics processing units (GPUs).

This arrangement will allow enterprises and government agencies to process data domestically while using Microsoft Azure services and support the development of advanced AI systems such as large language models in Japan. SoftBank and Microsoft Japan are also discussing a joint plan to enable Azure customers to directly access SoftBank’s AI computing platform.

On the security cooperation front, Microsoft will deepen collaboration with Japanese government agencies in sharing cyber threat intelligence and crime prevention, showing that this strategic investment has both commercial and security dimensions.

One Million Talent Plan: In Partnership with NTT Data, NEC, Fujitsu, Hitachi

In addition to infrastructure construction, Microsoft announced it will work with five major Japanese IT companies to promote an AI talent cultivation plan, aiming to train one million engineers, developers, and AI professionals by 2030. Participating companies include NTT Data Corp., NEC, Fujitsu, and Hitachi.

The Japanese government forecasts that by 2040, the country will face a shortage of over three million professionals in AI and robotics, and talent shortage has become one of the core challenges restraining Japan’s long-term digital economic development. Microsoft's talent cultivation plan directly responds to this structural issue.

When announcing the investment plan, Brad Smith emphasized that demand for cloud computing and AI services in Japan continues to grow. Citing the company’s AI Diffusion Report, Microsoft noted that about one-fifth of Japan’s working-age population is already using generative AI tools, higher than the global average of about one-sixth. Since 2024, the adoption of AI applications in Japan has accelerated significantly, providing strong market demand support for this large-scale investment plan.

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