OpenAI noted that Japan’s data center market is expected to surpass JPY5 trillion ($33.2 billion) by 2028
In sum – what to know:
JPY5 trillion AI infra market by 2028 – Japan’s data center market is projected to exceed this value, highlighting growing demand for AI-driven computing power.
Coordinated DX and GX policies – The Blueprint emphasizes synchronized investment in computing and clean energy to ensure sustainable digital growth.
“Watts and bits” balance – Japan’s AI infrastructure vision links renewable energy expansion with advanced semiconductor and data center development.
Achieving Japan’s AI vision will require sustained national investment in both digital and physical infrastructure, according to OpenAI’s new Japan Economic Blueprint.
The U.S AI company noted that Japan’s data center market is expected to surpass JPY5 trillion ($33.2 billion) by 2028. Along with this investment boom, nationwide growth in power demand is also expected.
Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry estimates that the total national power demand will increase by approximately 5.8% by fiscal year 2034 due to the expansion of data centers and semiconductor factories, and as stated in the government’s “Green Growth Strategy,” the key to the success of Japan’s AI strategy lies in how to meet this demand in a stable and environmentally friendly manner, OpenAI said.
The blueprint calls for long-term collaboration among government, industry, and academia to expand computing capacity while ensuring green energy supply keeps pace. This coordinated approach aims to align Japan’s digital transformation with its green transformation, building the foundation for a resilient, low-carbon AI ecosystem, OpenAI stated.
By accelerating the development of next-generation AI data centers, advanced semiconductor manufacturing, and renewable power networks, Japan can ensure that the “watts and bits” driving its AI economy grow in balance. This infrastructure strategy will not only enable large-scale AI innovation but also strengthen Japan’s energy security and sustainability goals, the company said.
“This Japan Economic Blueprint is a living framework designed to unlock AI’s full potential. Japan now stands at an inflection point: through strategic investment in AI infrastructure, responsible innovation, and alignment of national strategy with emerging technologies, the country can strengthen its competitiveness, create new jobs, and ensure sustainable prosperity for generations to come,” said Kazuya Okubo, head of policy and partnerships at OpenAI.
“Japan’s strengths – in advanced manufacturing, scientific research, education, and public trust – uniquely position it to lead in the age of AI. National investment in AI infrastructure will serve as the foundation for the next era of growth, innovation, and entrepreneurship,” Okubo added.
Japan’s data center expansion will drive 60% of the country’s power demand growth by 2034, consuming electricity equivalent to 15–18 million households, according to a previous report from Wood Mackenzie.
The consultancy’s report, ‘Japan’s data center gold rush: the battle to power a data-driven future’, projects electricity use will more than triple from 19 TWh in 2024 to between 57 TWh and 66 TWh by 2034. Peak demand from data centers is forecast at 6.6 GW to 7.7 GW, representing about 4% of national peak load and a threefold increase from current levels, according to the research.