NTT Data nears deal to build Anthropic’s first Japan data centre in Osaka
Reports indicate NTT Data is close to agreeing with Anthropic to construct a dedicated AI facility in Osaka, marking the AI firm’s first standalone site in Japan.
Key points
- Construction costs could reach ¥1 trillion, with total expenses rising significantly when AI servers are included.
- The facility aims to draw up to 500 megawatts of power, making it one of the largest data centres in Japan.
- A formal agreement is targeted for the end of March 2027, with partial operations potentially beginning in 2028.
NTT Data Group is reportedly close to finalizing a deal with Anthropic to construct a new data centre in Osaka, according to a Tuesday report by Nikkei Asia citing multiple sources. This facility would represent the first site in Japan built exclusively for Anthropic, the company behind the Claude AI models.
The construction phase alone could cost up to ¥1 trillion ($6.3 billion), Nikkei Asia stated. Adding a large inventory of AI servers equipped with graphics processing units would increase the total expenditure to several trillion yen. The companies aim to sign the agreement by the end of March 2027, which marks the close of Japan’s fiscal year.
Infrastructure and Power Challenges
The proposed site would draw up to 500 megawatts of electricity, positioning it as one of the largest data centres in Japan, according to Nikkei Asia. Securing this volume of power presents a significant hurdle, as drawing that much energy from the existing grid would be a slow process.
To address power constraints, the project will explore alternative energy generation methods. Nikkei Asia reported that options include generating electricity on site and utilizing fuel cells. These measures are intended to supplement grid power and ensure the facility can meet its high energy demands without excessive delays.
Market Context and Expansion
NTT Data, a subsidiary of the telecommunications group NTT, ranks third globally among data centre operators by market share. The company currently manages more than 1,600 megawatts of capacity across several countries. Anthropic already maintains a presence in Japan, having partnered with Hitachi in May to deploy Claude across Hitachi’s workforce of approximately 290,000 employees.
Anthropic is also evaluating new data centre locations in other Asian countries, where governments are actively competing to host these facilities. In Australia, the Australian Financial Review reported that Anthropic is in talks with local firms. Japan is encouraging such investments as part of a broader strategy to attract ¥32.7 trillion in public and private funding for data centres, cloud computing, and battery storage by 2035.
What should you do?
Security and technology professionals should monitor this development for insights into how large-scale AI infrastructure impacts regional energy grids and supply chains. As AI data centres expand, understanding their power requirements and location strategies can help organizations anticipate shifts in cloud service availability and latency.
WATCH FOR:
- Monitor official announcements from NTT Data and Anthropic regarding the finalization of the Osaka deal.
- Review local energy policy changes in Japan that may affect data centre construction timelines.
- Assess how Anthropic’s expansion in Asia might influence regional cloud service pricing and availability.
- Evaluate your organization’s reliance on specific AI providers and consider diversifying infrastructure dependencies.
What to do and how to stay safe: Anthropic
- Sudden role changes in output signal a successful override of system instructions.
- Hidden metadata in images or documents often carries invisible injection payloads.
- Immediate isolation of the affected session prevents lateral movement within the AI workflow.
Prompt injections exploit the model’s ability to follow instructions by hiding malicious commands in input data. Isolate affected sessions immediately and implement external guardrails to filter inputs before they reach the model.
Step-by-step guide: Prompt Injection Warning Signs: How to Spot AI Manipulation
General security guidance from the Threat Times newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.
Frequently asked questions
When is the deal expected to be signed?
The companies aim to sign the deal by the end of March 2027, according to Nikkei Asia.
How much power will the Osaka data centre use?
The site would draw up to 500 megawatts of power, making it one of the largest in Japan.
Has Anthropic confirmed the report?
Both NTT Data and Anthropic declined to comment to Nikkei Asia, and TNW has not independently confirmed the report.
