NTT Data is in final-stage talks for Anthropic's first dedicated Japan data centre in Osaka, Nikkei reported on Tuesday, 13 October. The proposed facility would extend the Claude developer's presence in Japan, with construction costs potentially reaching ¥1 trillion, or about US$6.3 billion.
Reuters, citing Nikkei's multiple sources, reported planned power intake of up to 500 megawatts and partial operations as early as 2028. Those are reported project terms. The companies have yet to announce a signed agreement.
The two sides reportedly aim to sign by the end of Japan's fiscal 2026, which ends on 31 March 2027. Reuters said NTT declined comment. The proposed timetable therefore leaves contract execution ahead of construction and operations.
Anthropic Japan Data Centre Talks Focus on Osaka
Specialist publication w.media also reported the Osaka talks, citing Nikkei Asia. It said the construction estimate excludes additional investment in advanced servers and graphics processing units.
That distinction matters when assessing the headline figure. A building budget does not establish the final cost of the computers that would run inside it, the financing arrangements or the spending split between the prospective partners.
Similarly, a maximum power-intake specification is a planned infrastructure measure. It does not show that the facility is already using 500 MW, or identify how much capacity would be available when partial operations begin.
The report adds a physical-infrastructure angle to BullBuzz's earlier coverage of Anthropic and the technology investment cycle. A proposed site and a financing story have different milestones; neither substitutes for a disclosed construction contract.
NTT Data Already Operates in Kansai
NTT Data has an established regional footprint. In an official announcement on 9 April 2026, the company said it had opened the Keihanna OSK11 Data Center in Kyoto, in the Osaka-Kyoto corridor.
That facility delivers 30 MW of IT capacity and supports high-density computing, according to NTT Data. It is an existing, separately announced project. The announcement does not identify OSK11 as the prospective Anthropic facility.
The two capacity figures also describe different things: OSK11's IT capacity measures capacity for computing equipment, while the reported Anthropic proposal refers to power intake. Treating them as a direct size comparison would obscure that difference.
Japan Expansion Builds on Tokyo Office
Anthropic's Japanese presence predates the data-centre report. The company announced its Tokyo office opening on 29 October 2025, alongside a memorandum of cooperation with the Japan AI Safety Institute.
That statement described work with Japanese businesses and collaboration on AI evaluation. It supports the context of local expansion, but confirms an office and cooperation agreement rather than Tuesday's proposed computing facility.
For regional readers, the immediate development is a reported Japanese investment negotiation. The coverage reviewed does not establish a Malaysian site, new Malaysian product availability or a guaranteed change in Claude pricing.
What Investors Should Watch Next
BullBuzz's coverage of financing pressure on AI companies offers context for the funding question. Large construction estimates should be assessed alongside disclosed funding commitments and delivery dates.
- A company announcement confirming the agreement and each party's role.
- A disclosed site, construction schedule and initial power availability.
- Separate budgets for buildings, servers and other computing equipment.
- Confirmation of what partial operations in 2028 would include.
Photo: Visitors at Anthropic's booth during Dreamforce in San Francisco on 17 September 2026. Reuters/Carlos Barria, file photo via CNA. It shows the company at an industry event, not the proposed Osaka facility.
The next decisive development is a signed agreement. Until then, the Osaka location, construction estimate and opening target remain terms reported by Nikkei, rather than a completed investment announcement.