NTT Data Group is in advanced negotiations to build Anthropic’s first dedicated data center in Japan. The planned site is in Osaka, and the price tag could reach up to $6.3 billion.
The deal is not finalized. But if it closes, Osaka would host one of Japan’s largest computing facilities, measured by processing capacity, built for a single AI developer.
What’s on the table
The project’s construction cost is projected to top out at up to $6.3 billion.
Partial operations are targeted for 2028.
Anthropic would be the anchor customer for this site. It would mark the company’s first dedicated data center in Japan, giving it local infrastructure in one of Asia’s largest economies.
For NTT, the Osaka project fits into a much bigger construction plan. The company wants to grow its domestic data center IT power capacity from approximately 300 MW to around 1 GW by fiscal year 2033.
That expansion is backed by an investment exceeding $9 billion.
NTT’s Kansai buildout is already underway
In April 2026, the company opened the Kyohanna OSK11 data center in the Kansai area, which it bills as AI-ready. OSK11 has a capacity of 30 MW.
NTT is also deploying what it calls the AI-Optimized Wide-area Network, or AIOWN, to support low-latency AI workloads.
NTT already holds the position of Japan’s leading colocation provider.
Why Japan, and why now
Japan is facing challenges in keeping pace with surging demand for generative AI. Demand for computing power is climbing faster than the infrastructure built to serve it.
What this means
There are risks worth tracking. Negotiations are still ongoing, so terms could shift or the deal could stall. The $6.3 billion figure is a ceiling estimate.
Timing is another variable. Partial operations are targeted for 2028, and data center timelines depend on power availability, equipment supply and permitting, any of which can slip.
Key signals to watch include a formal announcement confirming the agreement, any update on the facility’s final capacity, and whether NTT stays on track for its 2028 partial launch. Progress toward the 1 GW target by fiscal year 2033 will also show whether Japan can close its AI computing gap.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Diego Almada Lopez. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.