Mitsui to double investment in data centers
Mitsui Fudosan has announced plans to invest an additional 300 billion Yen (US$2 billion) in data center development by 2035, doubling down on its commitment to digital infrastructure in response to growing demand from sectors like generative AI and 5G.Read more
Sagamihara City aiming to become the next data center hub
With electrical supply struggling to keep up with growing demand, Chiba’s Inzai City, also known as ‘Data Center Ginza’, may be overtaken by other cities keen to pick up on the data center boom.Read more
Tokyo’s Koto ward to tighten rules on data center development
With growing demand for data center projects, driven largely by the expansion of cloud services and generative AI, and increasing tensions with local residents, Tokyo’s Koto ward has issued new guidelines on data center development.Read more
Softbank acquires Sharp factory in Osaka for data center conversion
Sharp is selling part of its Sakai Display Product (SDP) plant and land in Osaka to Softbank with a sale price estimated to be around 100 billion Yen (US$671 million). The electronics manufacturer is expecting to post a 75.4 billion Yen (US$506 million) profit on sales as a result.Read more
Construction giant enters data center business
Construction giant Obayashi Corporation announced its entry into the urban data center market with the establishment of a new development and operational firm called MiTASUN.Read more
Inzai City’s data center boom boosts tax revenues and land values
Inzai City in Chiba is experiencing a data center rush and a doubling in city tax revenues as major operators set up shop in the once-sleepy bed town. The rapid influx has led to the Chiba New Town station area, in Inzai, being nicknamed ‘DC Ginza’.Read more
Sharp to repurpose LCD factories for AI and semiconductor-related use
It might have seemed like the end of the line for Sharp’s LCD factories, as strong offshore competition saw the electronics maker face a second year of losses in 2024. With LCD production winding down, the company is repurposing some of its plants across Japan by collaborating with other manufacturers, especially those in the AI and semiconductor space.Read more