TLDR
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- Sakura Internet shares jumped 20.27% following Microsoft’s announcement of a $10 billion AI commitment in Japan
- The tech giant plans to deploy 1.6 trillion yen from 2026 through 2029 for AI infrastructure and cybersecurity initiatives
- Microsoft selected Sakura Internet and SoftBank as strategic partners to deliver Japan-based AI compute capabilities and GPU resources
- The initiative includes a goal to train one million Japanese engineers and developers in AI technologies by 2030
- SoftBank Group shares increased 0.22% while SoftBank Corp. climbed 1.02% following the announcement
Shares of Sakura Internet experienced a dramatic 20.27% rally on Friday after Microsoft revealed an ambitious AI investment strategy for Japan, designating the cloud infrastructure provider as a strategic partner along with SoftBank.
Microsoft announced a four-year, $10 billion investment package in Japan, part of the US company’s Asia-wide push to expand in a region hungry for artificial intelligence services- Bloomberg
•$10B for data centers and AI infrastructure through 2029
•Builds on $2.9B announced… pic.twitter.com/laIAvfd383— Yeboah Walee (@YeboahWalee) April 3, 2026
The Redmond-based tech giant announced plans to deploy 1.6 trillion yen — approximately $10 billion — across Japan from 2026 to 2029. The comprehensive investment encompasses AI infrastructure development, cybersecurity collaboration, and an ambitious initiative to upskill 1 million Japanese engineers and developers in AI technologies by the decade’s end.
Brad Smith, Microsoft’s Vice Chair and President, revealed the strategic investment during a high-profile visit to Tokyo, where he held discussions with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
Under the partnership framework, Sakura Internet — which operates data center facilities throughout Japan — will collaborate with SoftBank to deliver AI computing infrastructure. This includes deploying graphics processing units that will remain physically situated within Japanese territory.
The arrangement enables corporations and government entities to process confidential and sensitive information domestically while maintaining access to Microsoft Azure cloud services.
Microsoft Japan and SoftBank are currently negotiating a combined offering that would enable Azure users to access SoftBank’s AI computing infrastructure seamlessly.
On Friday’s close, SoftBank Group posted a 0.22% gain, while SoftBank Corp. finished the session up 1.02%.
What Makes Japan Attractive?
Microsoft highlighted Japan’s robust AI adoption rates as a key factor behind the investment decision. Approximately 20% of Japan’s working-age population currently utilizes generative AI applications, based on data from Microsoft’s AI Diffusion Report. This significantly exceeds the global average of roughly one in six users.
Smith emphasized that cloud computing and AI service demand continues to accelerate across Japan, noting the investment supports Prime Minister Takaichi’s strategic vision of leveraging cutting-edge technology for economic expansion and national security enhancement.
Extended Partnership Ecosystem
Microsoft’s collaboration extends beyond Sakura Internet and SoftBank. The company identified five additional prominent Japanese technology firms as partners in achieving its ambitious target of training one million AI professionals by 2030. The roster includes industry leaders NTT Data Corp., NEC, Fujitsu, and Hitachi.
This collaborative framework will also facilitate the creation and advancement of domestically-developed large language models tailored for the Japanese market.
The cybersecurity dimension of Microsoft’s Japan commitment involves exchanging threat intelligence data and collaborating with Japanese law enforcement on crime prevention strategies.
Sakura Internet shares finished trading at 2,967.00 JPY, marking a substantial 500.00 JPY gain for the session.
