Key Points
- NTT Data in final talks to build 500 MW data centre for Anthropic in Osaka
- Construction costs could reach 1 trillion yen or $6.3 billion
- Facility expected to begin partial operations by 2028
NTT Data Group is in final-stage negotiations to build a data centre in western Japan for Anthropic, the American artificial intelligence company, in a deal that could be worth up to 1 trillion yen ($6.3 billion), according to multiple sources reported Nikkei.
The proposed facility in Osaka prefecture would establish Anthropic’s first dedicated data centre in Japan and rank among the country’s largest by processing capacity. NTT Data Group, a subsidiary of telecommunications giant NTT, and Anthropic are aiming to sign an agreement by the end of Japan’s fiscal year 2026, which concludes in March 2027, with partial operations expected to begin as early as 2028.
The data centre is planned to have a total power intake capacity of up to 500 megawatts, a scale that would place it among Japan’s most substantial computing facilities. AI data centres require high-performance servers equipped with graphics processing units, or GPUs, specialised chips that handle the parallel computations needed for training and running AI models. Installing large numbers of advanced AI servers would push total investment to several trillion yen, the sources indicated.
Both NTT Data Group and Anthropic have not official commented on the report.
Power and infrastructure
Securing adequate power supply presents a significant challenge for the planned facility. Obtaining 500 MW from utilities through the existing electrical grid would take considerable time, so the project will initially explore alternatives including on-site power generation and fuel cells.
Anthropic has emerged as one of the world’s leading AI developers. According to a study by Stanford University, Anthropic’s advanced AI model outperformed those developed by American rivals OpenAI and Google as of March 2026, ranking first among models developed by companies worldwide. The company, founded in 2021 by former OpenAI researchers including Dario Amodei and Daniela Amodei, has positioned itself as a safety-focused AI developer.
By the numbers
Key figures from this story- ¥1 trillion ($6.3B)
- Potential construction cost
- 500 MW
- Planned power intake capacity
- ¥32.7 trillion
- Japan's data centre investment target by 2035
The company is now considering building new data centres across several Asian countries as governments compete to attract AI infrastructure investments. The Australian Financial Review has reported that Anthropic is in discussions with local companies in Australia for similar facilities.
NTT Data Group brings substantial expertise to the partnership. The company is the world’s third-largest data centre operator by market share, operating facilities with a combined capacity exceeding 1,600 MW across multiple countries. It has established a track record in developing data centres equipped with advanced technologies for AI applications, including liquid cooling systems that use circulating fluids rather than air to manage the intense heat generated by high-performance computing equipment.
Through this project, NTT Data Group aims to build expertise in operating large-scale AI facilities in Japan and leverage that experience to secure future contracts globally.
Japan is experiencing a surge in large-scale data centre development proposals. In Akita prefecture in northern Japan, a plan has emerged to construct a data centre with maximum capacity of 500 MW at an estimated cost of 2 trillion yen ($12.6 billion). Separately, a Taiwanese investment firm and partners are planning to invest approximately 850 billion yen ($5.4 billion) to build a 350 MW facility in Kagoshima prefecture in western Japan.
The Japanese government has designated data centres and cloud computing as key products and technologies across 17 strategic sectors. It has set a target of mobilising 32.7 trillion yen in combined public and private investment in data centres, cloud computing and storage batteries by fiscal 2035.
For India’s technology sector, the Japan-Anthropic arrangement offers a reference point for how major economies are structuring public-private partnerships to attract AI infrastructure. Indian policymakers have similarly identified data centres as critical infrastructure, with the government offering incentives under the Digital India programme to attract global operators.
Your Questions, Answered
How large will the Anthropic data centre in Japan be?
The planned facility in Osaka prefecture would have a power intake capacity of up to 500 megawatts, making it one of Japan's largest data centres.
When will the NTT Data Anthropic facility become operational?
The companies aim to sign an agreement by March 2027, with partial operations expected to begin as early as 2028.
Why is Anthropic building data centres in Asia?
Anthropic is expanding its infrastructure across Asian countries as governments compete to attract AI investments. The company is also in discussions for facilities in Australia.
What challenges does the Japan data centre project face?
Securing 500 MW of power from the existing grid would take considerable time, so the project will initially explore alternatives including on-site generation and fuel cells.
