Japan’s AI-Powered Industrial Revolution: NVIDIA and Japanese Cloud Leaders Drive Nationwide Transformation

Jakarta, INTI - NVIDIA recently announced a strategic partnership with Japan’s leading cloud providers, including SoftBank Corp., GMO Internet Group, Highreso, KDDI, Rutilea, and SAKURA internet, to strengthen AI infrastructure in key industries such as robotics, automotive, healthcare, and telecommunications. This collaboration is poised to accelerate Japan’s digital transformation, with full support from the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) to supply vital computing resources for these firms. The initiative also enables the development of AI data centers in Japan's central, northern, and western regions to build a comprehensive AI computing infrastructure across the country.

Through this partnership, NVIDIA is working with Japan’s leading companies to create “AI factories” – essential AI-driven digital systems that can transform Japan’s industrial base for the modern age. These AI facilities are expected to play a pivotal role in transforming Japan’s industries, from advanced robotics to autonomous vehicles and healthcare innovations.

Empowering Japan’s Industries for the New AI Age

According to Jensen Huang, NVIDIA’s founder and CEO, the AI-powered industrial revolution holds massive potential for Japan. Huang believes that future industries will run two types of factories: traditional factories that produce physical goods and AI factories that generate software intelligence to operate these products. The dual approach aims to enhance productivity by using AI agents to automate repetitive tasks and boost overall operational speed and efficiency. This foundational shift could empower Japanese industries to stay competitive on a global scale, keeping pace with rapid advancements in automation and data-driven decision-making.

SoftBank Corp.: Building Japan’s Most Powerful AI Supercomputer

SoftBank Corp. is at the forefront of this AI infrastructure revolution, adopting NVIDIA’s advanced Blackwell platform to construct one of Japan's most powerful AI supercomputers, including the world's first NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD™ with NVIDIA DGX B200 systems. SoftBank's AI infrastructure spans numerous applications, including developing large language models (LLMs) tailored for Japanese users. Through its subsidiary SB Intuitions, SoftBank is leading the development of high-performance Japanese-native LLMs, which will be crucial for a range of industries, from customer service to advanced R&D.

GMO Internet Group: Launching Japan’s First AI Cloud with Full NVIDIA Stack

GMO Internet Group has launched its innovative GPU Cloud, the first local cloud service in Japan that leverages NVIDIA’s full-stack AI solution, featuring H200 Tensor Core GPUs, Spectrum-X™ Ethernet platform, BlueField™-3 DPUs, and NVIDIA AI Enterprise software. Built on Dell PowerEdge servers, the GMO GPU Cloud is expected to go online this month. This AI cloud service allows Japanese businesses to harness NVIDIA's AI Enterprise software suite, facilitating accelerated development for generative AI applications across various sectors, such as media, retail, and manufacturing.

Highreso: Accelerating AI Development with Dedicated AI Data Centers

Highreso, a Japanese AI technology firm, is expanding its footprint by establishing Highreso Kagawa, a specialized AI data center powered by NVIDIA H200 Tensor Core GPUs. This dedicated AI data center, set to open in the coming months, will provide a high-performance platform for Highreso’s GPUSOROBAN AI Supercomputer Cloud service. Highreso is also planning to launch a second AI data center next summer, together providing over 1,600 NVIDIA GPUs for researchers and businesses across Japan. The increased GPU capacity is expected to foster AI advancements in manufacturing, scientific research, and academic institutions, allowing for more sophisticated AI models and applications.

KDDI: Deploying NVIDIA HGX™ Systems for Generative AI and LLM Development

KDDI, another major player in Japan’s AI landscape, has invested in NVIDIA HGX™ systems to support generative AI and large language model (LLM) development. In collaboration with its AI business division ELYZA, KDDI provides the computing power to train AI models, run digital twin simulations, and enhance operations across industries such as autonomous vehicles and robotics. With plans to establish a new liquid-cooled data center, KDDI aims to utilize NVIDIA’s GB200 NVL72 platform, equipped with Grace Blackwell Superchips, to handle large-scale AI workloads with maximum efficiency.

Rutilea: Expanding AI Capabilities in Fukushima for Economic Revitalization

Rutilea, a Kyoto-based NVIDIA Inception member, is significantly enhancing its AI infrastructure with over 1,000 NVIDIA Hopper GPUs, making it one of Japan's most advanced AI facilities. Focused on developing Japanese foundation models, Rutilea’s AI platform supports applications in animation, retail, and data extraction for industries needing highly customized AI solutions. Moreover, Rutilea’s subsidiary AI Fukushima launched a new data center in Okuma, Fukushima, to support regional economic recovery post-2011 Tohoku earthquake. AI Fukushima aims to contribute to the revitalization of the local economy, providing a boost to local businesses and communities through advanced AI resources.

SAKURA internet: Scaling Up AI Cloud Services for National Research and Development

SAKURA internet is rapidly expanding its Koukaryoku AI cloud services with plans to increase its NVIDIA Hopper GPU capacity from 2,000 to nearly 4,000 units. SAKURA is also building an energy-efficient data center powered by renewable energy, which is expected to be fully operational by 2027. The company’s focus on sustainability aligns with its goal to support high-performance computing for AI-driven applications. Notably, SAKURA internet has partnered with the National Institute of Informatics (NII) to establish a collaborative platform for AI research, particularly focusing on creating Japanese-centric large language models for healthcare and public service applications.

Catalyzing AI’s Growth Across Japan’s Industries

The collaboration between NVIDIA and Japan’s cloud service providers marks a pivotal moment for the country’s technological evolution. AI is expected to reshape how businesses operate, drive economic growth, and enable new solutions for complex problems in healthcare, telecommunications, and beyond. With Japan’s commitment to AI at a governmental level, the nation is positioning itself as a leader in AI technology and infrastructure, fostering an environment ripe for innovation.

From AI-powered research to robotics and autonomous driving, Japan’s industries stand to benefit immensely from NVIDIA’s cutting-edge technology. This collaboration between global and local technology leaders is more than just a technological advancement; it’s a strategic move to secure Japan’s position in the global AI race. By providing the necessary infrastructure, NVIDIA and Japan’s cloud leaders are laying the groundwork for a thriving AI ecosystem that will support both the private sector and public institutions in adopting AI solutions tailored for Japan’s unique needs.

As AI continues to evolve, Japan is well-equipped to handle the complex demands of a data-driven economy. With a robust AI infrastructure and ongoing support from industry leaders, the nation is primed to lead in AI-driven solutions across industries, from intelligent healthcare systems to autonomous transport networks. This partnership underscores the transformative power of AI and reflects Japan’s proactive stance in embracing the future of industrial intelligence.