Key Highlights
- Sakura Internet’s stock price climbed 20.27% following Microsoft’s revelation of a $10 billion AI commitment to Japan
- The tech giant intends to deploy 1.6 trillion yen from 2026 through 2029 for AI infrastructure development and cybersecurity initiatives
- Partnership agreement positions Sakura Internet and SoftBank as providers of Japan-based AI computational power, including GPU resources
- Microsoft sets ambitious goal to educate 1 million Japanese engineers and developers in AI technologies by decade’s end
- SoftBank Group shares increased 0.22% while SoftBank Corp. climbed 1.02% following the announcement
Shares of Sakura Internet skyrocketed 20.27% on Friday after Microsoft revealed an ambitious AI expansion strategy in Japan, designating the cloud infrastructure provider as a strategic partner together with SoftBank.
Microsoft announced a four-year, $10 billion investment package in Japan, part of the US companyâs Asia-wide push to expand in a region hungry for artificial intelligence services- Bloomberg
â˘$10B for data centers and AI infrastructure through 2029
â˘Builds on $2.9B announced⌠pic.twitter.com/laIAvfd383â Yeboah Walee (@YeboahWalee) April 3, 2026
The Redmond-based technology giant outlined plans to deploy 1.6 trillion yen â approximately $10 billion â across Japan from 2026 to 2029. This substantial commitment encompasses AI infrastructure development, collaborative cybersecurity efforts, and an initiative to educate 1 million engineers and developers in AI technologies by the year 2030.
Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith disclosed the investment plan during his Tokyo visit, where he held discussions with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
Sakura Internet, operating a network of data centers throughout Japan, has been selected to collaborate with SoftBank in delivering AI computing infrastructure under this partnership framework. The arrangement includes deploying graphics processing units that remain physically situated within Japanese territory.
This configuration enables businesses and public sector entities to maintain sensitive data processing within national borders while leveraging Microsoft Azure cloud capabilities.
Additionally, SoftBank and Microsoft Japan are exploring a collaborative offering that would enable Azure subscribers to access SoftBank’s AI computing infrastructure seamlessly.
Trading concluded Friday with SoftBank Group up 0.22%, and SoftBank Corp. gaining 1.02%.
Japan’s Strategic Importance
Microsoft highlighted Japan’s robust AI adoption rates as a key motivation behind the investment. Data from Microsoft’s AI Diffusion Report indicates that approximately 20% of Japan’s working-age population currently utilizes generative AI technologies, surpassing the global average of around 16%.
According to Smith, the escalating demand for cloud computing and AI capabilities in Japan aligns perfectly with Prime Minister Takaichi’s strategic vision of leveraging cutting-edge technology to bolster economic expansion and strengthen national security.
Expanding the Collaboration Ecosystem
In addition to Sakura and SoftBank, Microsoft revealed partnerships with five prominent Japanese technology firms to achieve its target of training 1 million AI specialists by 2030’s conclusion. The roster includes industry leaders NTT Data Corp., NEC, Fujitsu, and Hitachi.
These collaborative efforts will also facilitate the creation and advancement of domestically developed large language models within Japan.
The cybersecurity dimension of Microsoft’s Japanese initiative involves exchanging threat intelligence and collaborating with local law enforcement on crime prevention strategies.
Sakura Internet concluded trading at 2,967.00 JPY, representing a gain of 500.00 JPY for the session.
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