TLDR
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- Sakura Internet surged 20.27% after Microsoft announced a $10 billion AI investment in Japan
- Microsoft plans to invest 1.6 trillion yen between 2026 and 2029 in AI infrastructure and cybersecurity
- Sakura Internet and SoftBank will partner with Microsoft to provide Japan-based AI computing resources, including GPUs
- Microsoft aims to train 1 million engineers and developers in Japan by 2030
- SoftBank Group rose 0.22% and SoftBank Corp. gained 1.02% on the news
Sakura Internet jumped 20.27% on Friday after Microsoft announced a major AI investment push in Japan, naming the cloud company as a key partner alongside 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
Microsoft said it will invest 1.6 trillion yen — roughly $10 billion — in Japan between 2026 and 2029. The investment covers AI infrastructure, cybersecurity cooperation, and a pledge to train 1 million engineers and developers by 2030.
The announcement was made during a visit to Tokyo by Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith, who met with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
Sakura Internet, which runs domestic data centers across Japan, will work with SoftBank to provide AI computing capacity under the partnership. That includes graphics processing units physically located within Japan.
The setup is designed to let companies and government agencies process sensitive data without it leaving the country, while still accessing Microsoft Azure services.
SoftBank and Microsoft Japan are also in discussions over a joint solution that would let Azure customers tap into SoftBank’s AI computing platform directly.
SoftBank Group closed up 0.22% on Friday, while SoftBank Corp. rose 1.02%.
Why Japan?
Microsoft pointed to strong AI adoption in Japan as a driver of the deal. Around one in five working-age people in the country now use generative AI tools, according to Microsoft’s own AI Diffusion Report. That compares to roughly one in six globally.
Smith said demand for cloud and AI services in Japan is growing, and the investment aligns with Prime Minister Takaichi’s push to use advanced technology to support economic growth and national security.
Broader Partnership Network
Beyond Sakura and SoftBank, Microsoft said it will partner with five other major Japanese IT companies to hit its 1 million AI professional target by 2030. Those include NTT Data Corp., NEC, Fujitsu, and Hitachi.
The partnership will also support the development of domestic large language models in Japan.
Microsoft’s cybersecurity cooperation with Japan will include sharing intelligence on cyber threats and crime prevention with local authorities.
Sakura Internet closed at 2,967.00 JPY, up 500.00 JPY on the day.
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