Eleven companies including NTT East Japan Corporation, Sakura Internet Inc., and Tokyu Land Corporation, have come together to establish Ishikari Data Center Consortium (Ishikari DCC). The consortium comprising data center owners and operators, telecommunications providers, and related infrastructure developers, will work in cooperation with Ishikari City in the Hokkaido province of Japan, and aims to develop the region as a major data center hub.
According to a press release, Ishikari is projected to become the next big data center hub after the Kanto and Kansai regions. The consortium also includes Kyocera Communication Systems Co., Ltd., Broadband Tower Inc., and other companies with facilities or operations in Ishikari. Professor Hiroshi Esaki of the Graduate School of Information Science and Technology at the University of Tokyo serves as an advisor.
Ishikari DCC will focus on three areas: strengthening shared infrastructure, increasing the competitiveness of data centers in the region, and expanding cooperation with Ishikari City. Member companies will study ways to improve power and communications infrastructure, including potential use of national support programs and special zone frameworks.
The consortium will also promote collaboration among data center operators, improve disaster-response systems, develop technical talent, and create employment opportunities. It aims to help local residents and businesses better understand the role of data centers as digital infrastructure and strengthen ties between the industry and the community.
Ishikari has attracted data center investment due to its access to renewable energy, low disaster risk, and proximity to Sapporo, which provides access to a large workforce. The Ishikari Bay New Port area has been developed as a renewable energy-focused zone, with projects including local renewable power supply initiatives and offshore wind development.
Sakura Internet has operated its Ishikari Data Center since 2011 and has expanded GPU infrastructure at the site in response to growing demand for generative AI computing. The company said the consortium will allow members to share operational knowledge and work with local partners to support regional development.
Ishikari City aims to position the area as a major domestic data center location alongside existing hubs in the Kanto and Kansai regions. The consortium will serve as a platform for companies and local governments to coordinate infrastructure development and address challenges facing the growing data center industry.