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Key Facts

Key PlayersSoftBank, NEC, Fujitsu, Preferred Networks

Top InstitutionsRIKEN, University of Tokyo, AIST

AI Policy StanceInnovation-first, no penalties

Notable LegislationAI Promotion Act (Sep 2025)

Top News

Koji Fukada warns AI undermines the creative process by skipping essential artistic steps

Japanese director Koji Fukada voiced concerns about artificial intelligence in art at the Cannes Film Festival, arguing that AI tools allow creators to bypass the essential process of creation. His new film Nagi Notes, competing for the Palme d'Or, explores the human process of sculpting as a counter-narrative to AI-driven shortcuts in creative work.

Entertainment3 sources

Koji Fukada warns AI undermines the creative process by skipping essential artistic steps

Entertainment3 sources

Japan's megabanks to access Anthropic Mythos AI as cybersecurity concerns mount globally

Japan's three largest banks—MUFG, Mizuho, and Sumitomo Mitsui—will gain access to Anthropic's vulnerability-hunting AI model Mythos by the end of May. This marks the first Japanese entry to the restricted rollout, which has uncovered thousands of zero-day vulnerabilities across major operating systems and browsers. Japan is establishing a public-private working group to address the cybersecurity risks posed by this powerful AI model.

Technology4 sources

Japan's megabanks to access Anthropic Mythos AI as cybersecurity concerns mount globally

Technology4 sources

Japan's PM orders urgent cybersecurity review as Mythos AI threatens critical infrastructure

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has ordered a cabinet-level cybersecurity review to defend against Anthropic's Mythos AI model. The move comes as officials warn that the bug-hunting AI could enable faster, more sophisticated cyberattacks on critical infrastructure. Japan is now coordinating with Western allies to prevent weaponization of advanced AI models.

Policy3 sources

Japan's PM orders urgent cybersecurity review as Mythos AI threatens critical infrastructure

Policy3 sources

Alphabet closes record $3.6 billion yen bond sale to fund AI infrastructure expansion

Alphabet completed a historic $3.6 billion yen-denominated bond sale, the largest ever by a foreign company in Japan. The Google parent tapped Japanese institutional investors as part of its aggressive multi-currency funding strategy to finance up to $190 billion in AI capital expenditure. The move signals how US tech companies are shifting from cash reserves to debt markets to support massive AI infrastructure investments.

Business4 sources

Alphabet closes record $3.6 billion yen bond sale to fund AI infrastructure expansion

Business4 sources

SoftBank to manufacture large-scale batteries for AI data centers at former Sharp factory

SoftBank Group's mobile-services subsidiary will begin manufacturing large-scale battery cells at a converted Sharp factory in Sakai, Osaka, targeting one gigawatt-hour per year. Partnering with South Korea's Cosmos Lab and DeltaX, the company plans mass production from April 2026 to address surging power demands of AI data centers while avoiding Chinese supply chains.

Business2 sources

SoftBank to manufacture large-scale batteries for AI data centers at former Sharp factory

Business2 sources

Sony and TSMC form joint venture to build next-generation image sensors for AI and robotics

Sony Semiconductor Solutions and TSMC signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding to establish a joint venture in Kumamoto, Japan, focused on developing next-generation image sensors. With Sony as the majority shareholder, the partnership targets automotive and robotics markets where AI perception systems are becoming critical infrastructure.

Technology4 sources

Sony and TSMC form joint venture to build next-generation image sensors for AI and robotics

Technology4 sources

SoftBank partners with Nvidia and Foxconn to build homegrown AI servers in Japan

SoftBank Corp has initiated discussions with chip giant Nvidia and contract manufacturer Foxconn to develop made-in-Japan AI servers. The telecom company plans to start with component assembly by the decade's end before taking full control of manufacturing, focusing on high-performance servers capable of running advanced GPUs at high speeds.

Business3 sources

SoftBank partners with Nvidia and Foxconn to build homegrown AI servers in Japan

Business3 sources

AI Boom Fuels Community Opposition as Data Centres Invade Residential Neighborhoods

Across Japan and Australia, residents are pushing back against massive data centre construction in their neighborhoods. In Tokyo, a couple's property lost 25% of its value after a 52-meter data centre was approved near their home. From Melbourne to Sydney, communities report noise pollution, diesel generator exhaust, and concerns over outdated zoning rules that classify these industrial-scale facilities as office buildings.

Policy2 sources

AI Boom Fuels Community Opposition as Data Centres Invade Residential Neighborhoods

Policy2 sources

Japanese toilet maker Toto sees 18% stock surge as AI semiconductor components drive record profits

Toto's shares jumped 18% to a five-year high after announcing plans to invest $190 million in semiconductor component production. The company's advanced ceramics business, which produces electrostatic chucks for Nand memory chips, now accounts for over half its operating profit as the AI boom transforms the toilet manufacturer into an unexpected AI play.

Business3 sources

Japanese toilet maker Toto sees 18% stock surge as AI semiconductor components drive record profits

Business3 sources

Japan Airlines tests humanoid robots for baggage handling at Tokyo airport amid labor shortage

Japan Airlines has launched a trial deploying humanoid robots for ground handling tasks at Tokyo's Haneda Airport, addressing a severe labor shortage driven by surging tourism and Japan's aging population. The pilot program, running through 2028, will test robots from Chinese manufacturers Unitree Robotics and UBTECH for tasks like cargo loading and cabin cleaning.

Technology9 sources

Japan Airlines tests humanoid robots for baggage handling at Tokyo airport amid labor shortage

Technology9 sources

Intel and SoftBank's ZAM Memory Project Secures Japanese Government Subsidies for AI Development

Japan's NEDO has selected the ZAM memory development project for government subsidies, backing Intel and SoftBank subsidiary SAIMEMORY's effort to create a power-efficient alternative to HBM. The next-generation memory technology promises 40% lower power consumption and aims for mass production by 2029, marking Japan's strategic push to re-enter the semiconductor market.

Technology2 sources

Intel and SoftBank's ZAM Memory Project Secures Japanese Government Subsidies for AI Development

Technology2 sources

SoftBank plans to manufacture batteries for AI data centers at converted Osaka factory

SoftBank is transforming part of its former Sharp LCD factory in Osaka into one of Japan's largest battery production facilities to power its own AI data centers. The mobile unit aims to bring production online within five years, initially supporting its infrastructure before offering batteries to other Japanese companies. The move completes a vertical integration strategy spanning chips, data centers, and energy storage.

Business3 sources

SoftBank plans to manufacture batteries for AI data centers at converted Osaka factory

Business3 sources

Japan Forms Task Force to Combat Mythos AI Cybersecurity Risks in Financial System

Japan has established a task force to address cybersecurity risks posed by Anthropic's Mythos AI model after it uncovered thousands of vulnerabilities across major operating systems and web browsers. Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama convened Japan's top banks, the Financial Services Agency, and the Bank of Japan to tackle what she called "a crisis that is already at hand."

Policy6 sources

Japan Forms Task Force to Combat Mythos AI Cybersecurity Risks in Financial System

Policy6 sources

Japanet quadruples venture capital fund to $200M after Anthropic and xAI bets deliver massive returns

Japanet Holdings, a Japanese TV shopping company, has expanded its venture capital fund from $50 million to $200 million after early investments in Anthropic, xAI, SpaceX, and OpenAI generated extraordinary returns. Anthropic's valuation soared from $550 million in 2021 to $380 billion in 2026. The move reflects a broader trend of Japanese corporations racing to secure stakes in Silicon Valley startups amid fears of missing the AI revolution.

Business3 sources

Japanet quadruples venture capital fund to $200M after Anthropic and xAI bets deliver massive returns

Business3 sources

Nissan bets on AI driving tech for 90% of cars as turnaround plan cuts 11 models from lineup

Nissan announced an aggressive push into autonomous driving, planning to deploy AI driving technology across 90% of its vehicle lineup while cutting 11 models. CEO Ivan Espinosa revealed the strategy includes new hybrid and electric models, partnerships with Wayve and Uber for robotaxis, and ambitious sales targets of 1 million vehicles each in the U.S. and China by 2030.

Business2 sources

Nissan bets on AI driving tech for 90% of cars as turnaround plan cuts 11 models from lineup

Business2 sources

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