{"slug": "akita-eyes-ai-data-center-that-could-become-japans-largest", "title": "Akita eyes AI data center that could become Japan’s largest", "summary": "A plan is underway to build an artificial intelligence data center in Akita Prefecture that could become Japan’s largest, led by S2, a server management firm based in Akita, and U.S. startup Bitgrit, with total construction cost estimated at ¥2 trillion ($12.5 billion). The firms are cooperating with Akita Prefecture and the city of Akita to make the data center a hub for AI-related businesses and human resources.", "body_md": "A plan is underway to build an artificial intelligence data center in Akita Prefecture that could become Japan’s largest.\n\nThe plan is being led by S2, a server management firm based in the city of Akita, and U.S. startup Bitgrit, with the total construction cost estimated at ¥2 trillion ($12.5 billion).\n\nThe firms are cooperating with Akita Prefecture and the city of Akita with an aim to make the data center a hub to attract AI-related businesses and human resources.", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/akita-eyes-ai-data-center-that-could-become-japans-largest", "canonical_source": "https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/08/17/companies/akita-data-center/", "published_at": "2026-08-17 05:07:00+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-08-17 05:10:31.984470+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["ai-infrastructure"], "entities": ["S2", "Bitgrit", "Akita Prefecture", "Akita"], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/akita-eyes-ai-data-center-that-could-become-japans-largest", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/akita-eyes-ai-data-center-that-could-become-japans-largest.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/akita-eyes-ai-data-center-that-could-become-japans-largest.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/akita-eyes-ai-data-center-that-could-become-japans-largest.jsonld"}}