Latest news with #MitsuiFudosan


Hype Malaysia
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hype Malaysia
Producer Of AKB48 Announces Auditions For A New Male Idol Group
The long-standing Japanese idol girl group, AKB48, has seen its fair share of ups and downs, but above it all, their popularity soars through generations of graduates as they are Japan's highest-grossing female act. Utilising this fact, producers of the group have finally opted to tap into a different facet of groups, such as expanding their nationality range, and maybe we'll see a boy group soon. Yasushi Akimoto (秋元 康), producer of AKB48, has announced a worldwide audition and a theatre opening for a new idol group featuring an all-male lineup. Auditions are opening in the Summer, which means it will likely start later this month or in August. The audition is open to participants aged 12 to 26 years old who are not currently signed under any talent agencies, record label or music publisher. 'I am very honoured to have been appointed as the general producer of this content. I hope that everyone will witness every moment and think, 'This is how the future is created', comments Akimoto. In light of the formation of the new boy group, a dedicated theatre will be built in a commercial facility in Tokyo where the group will be holding future events. The theatre will be operated by Mitsui Fudosan and include other commercial facilities operated by the company. The dedicated theatre serves as a foothold for the boy group for its main centre of operations, including regular performances and fan events, much like how AKB48 operates. Not much is known about the particulars or the auditions, but reports say that participants worldwide are required to move to Tokyo after passing the audition, where they will be able to participate in future promotional events. Sources: Twitter, PR Times Japan Alyssa Gabrielle contributed to this article What's your Reaction? +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0


The Mainichi
17-06-2025
- Business
- The Mainichi
Tokyoites push back against IT giants' encroaching data behemoths
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Discontent is growing in the Tokyo metropolitan area due to proposals to construct giant data centers in residential areas, with industry groups working to smooth relations between locals concerned about the "eerie" facilities' imposing nature and the companies that operate them. Despite tech companies investing heavily to build the massive digital hubs to meet the storage and processing demands of cloud computing and artificial intelligence, some projects are being scrapped due to opposition from residents worried about electricity shortages, heat islands and obstruction of their natural light. In the city of Hino in Tokyo, a billboard announced the construction of three data centers, including a five-story, 72-meter-tall building scheduled for completion in 2031. As the tallest structure in the city, it would be the area's proverbial sore thumb. A residential association is demanding the project be paused until the plan conforms to a city ordinance that limits the height of apartment buildings to 25 meters. The facility, which will require tight security, would also consume a massive amount of electricity and generate significant levels of heat. "They haven't given us an acceptable explanation," said resident association head Eizo Tsutsumizaki, 71, referring to the project owner Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd. Mitsui Fudosan is now considering whether the building's height can be reduced. As a tradeoff, it also plans to build a new park and sidewalk on the site to accommodate the community. In Inzai, Chiba Prefecture, home to many data centers, the city was flooded with calls of concern in April when plans were revealed for an over 50-meter-tall building housing a data center in a prime location in front of a station. It would add a new and imposing structure to the area, which already hosts 114 data centers, according to Mayor Kengo Fujishiro wrote on social media, "This place is the center of civic life. It is not an appropriate location for this facility." In Nagareyama, a city in the same prefecture, a plan that surfaced in 2022 to build a data center on a vacant lot south of the city hall had to be withdrawn due to opposition from residents. The clashes between residents and the technology behemoths stem from a lack of suitable sites in Japan, considered an attractive location. According to the Japan Data Center Council, Japan has better infrastructure and a stable political environment compared to other Asian countries, making it a prime location for large-scale technology investment. However, proposed sites tend to be located around large cities where it is easy to access workers and telecommunications infrastructure is robust. "The only suitable sites are in Tokyo, Osaka, and their suburbs," said JDCC executive director Naohiro Masunaga. With nearly all the options exhausted, businesses have no choice but to encroach into residential areas. As demand for data handling explodes, facilities are becoming larger and larger. Hyperscale data centers -- facilities with a total floor space of more than 15,000 square meters -- have become common, with their integrated server farms meeting the processing needs of rapidly growing cloud computing, big data, and generative AI functions. Fumito Haga, manager of Fuji Chimera Research Institute, said, "There is no doubt that the number of giant data centers will continue to increase." Some municipalities are taking matters into their own hands. In April, Tokyo's Koto Ward started requiring data center business owners to install signs announcing construction earlier than previously and to clearly indicate the location of heat-emitting outdoor units. Inzai has begun considering whether to set restrictions on the construction of data centers near residential areas. JDCC's Masunaga said, "Right now, anxiety is prevailing. It is important for business owners to disclose information and steadily work to build trust with the communities affected." (By Hiroki Kawasumi)


Qatar Tribune
17-06-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Discontent grows over data center construction in Tokyo residential areas
Agencies Discontent is growing in the Tokyo metropolitan area due to proposals to construct giant data centers in residential areas, with industry groups working to smooth relations between locals concerned about the 'eerie' facilities' imposing nature and the companies that operate them. Despite tech companies investing heavily to build the massive digital hubs to meet the storage and processing demands of cloud computing and artificial intelligence, some projects are being scrapped due to opposition from residents worried about electricity shortages, heat islands and obstruction of their natural light. In the city of Hino in Tokyo, a billboard announced the construction of three data centers, including a five-story, 72-meter-tall building scheduled for completion in 2031. As the tallest structure in the city, it would be the area's proverbial sore thumb.A residential association is demanding the project be paused until the plan conforms to a city ordinance that limits the height of apartment buildings to 25 facility, which will require tight security, would also consume a massive amount of electricity and generate significant levels of heat. 'They haven't given us an acceptable explanation,' said resident association head Eizo Tsutsumizaki, 71, referring to the project owner Mitsui Fudosan Co Ltd. Mitsui Fudosan is now considering whether the building's height can be reduced. As a tradeoff, it also plans to build a new park and sidewalk on the site to accommodate the community. In Inzai, Chiba Prefecture, home to many data centers, the city was flooded with calls of concern in April when plans were revealed for an over 50-meter-tall building housing a data center in a prime location in front of a station. It would add a new and imposing structure to the area, which already hosts 114 data centers, according to Mayor Kengo Fujishiro wrote on social media, 'This place is the center of civic life. It is not an appropriate location for this facility.' In Nagareyama, a city in the same prefecture, a plan that surfaced in 2022 to build a data center on a vacant lot south of the city hall had to be withdrawn due to opposition from residents. The clashes between residents and the technology behemoths stem from a lack of suitable sites in Japan, considered an attractive location. According to the Japan Data Center Council, Japan has better infrastructure and a stable political environment compared to other Asian countries, making it a prime location for large-scale technology proposed sites tend to be located around large cities where it is easy to access workers and telecommunications infrastructure is robust. 'The only suitable sites are in Tokyo, Osaka, and their suburbs,' said JDCC executive director Naohiro Masunaga. With nearly all the options exhausted, businesses have no choice but to encroach into residential areas. As demand for data handling explodes, facilities are becoming larger and larger. Hyperscale data centers -- facilities with a total floor space of more than 15,000 square meters -- have become common, with their integrated server farms meeting the processing needs of rapidly growing cloud computing, big data, and generative AI functions. Fumito Haga, manager of Fuji Chimera Research Institute, said, 'There is no doubt that the number of giant data centers will continue to increase.' Some municipalities are taking matters into their own hands. In April, Tokyo's Koto Ward started requiring data center business owners to install signs announcing construction earlier than previously and to clearly indicate the location of heat-emitting outdoor units. Inzai has begun considering whether to set restrictions on the construction of data centers near residential areas. JDCC's Masunaga said, 'Right now, anxiety is prevailing. It is important for business owners to disclose information and steadily work to build trust with the communities affected.'


Kyodo News
16-06-2025
- Business
- Kyodo News
FEATURE: Tokyoites push back against IT giants' encroaching data behemoths
By Hiroki Kawasumi, KYODO NEWS - 6 minutes ago - 11:56 | All, Japan Discontent is growing in the Tokyo metropolitan area due to proposals to construct giant data centers in residential areas, with industry groups working to smooth relations between locals concerned about the "eerie" facilities' imposing nature and the companies that operate them. Despite tech companies investing heavily to build the massive digital hubs to meet the storage and processing demands of cloud computing and artificial intelligence, some projects are being scrapped due to opposition from residents worried about electricity shortages, heat islands and obstruction of their natural light. In the city of Hino in Tokyo, a billboard announced the construction of three data centers, including a five-story, 72-meter-tall building scheduled for completion in 2031. As the tallest structure in the city, it would be the area's proverbial sore thumb. A residential association is demanding the project be paused until the plan conforms to a city ordinance that limits the height of apartment buildings to 25 meters. The facility, which will require tight security, would also consume a massive amount of electricity and generate significant levels of heat. "They haven't given us an acceptable explanation," said resident association head Eizo Tsutsumizaki, 71, referring to the project owner Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd. Mitsui Fudosan is now considering whether the building's height can be reduced. As a tradeoff, it also plans to build a new park and sidewalk on the site to accommodate the community. In Inzai, Chiba Prefecture, home to many data centers, the city was flooded with calls of concern in April when plans were revealed for an over 50-meter-tall building housing a data center in a prime location in front of a station. It would add a new and imposing structure to the area, which already hosts 114 data centers, according to Mayor Kengo Fujishiro wrote on social media, "This place is the center of civic life. It is not an appropriate location for this facility." In Nagareyama, a city in the same prefecture, a plan that surfaced in 2022 to build a data center on a vacant lot south of the city hall had to be withdrawn due to opposition from residents. The clashes between residents and the technology behemoths stem from a lack of suitable sites in Japan, considered an attractive location. According to the Japan Data Center Council, Japan has better infrastructure and a stable political environment compared to other Asian countries, making it a prime location for large-scale technology investment. However, proposed sites tend to be located around large cities where it is easy to access workers and telecommunications infrastructure is robust. "The only suitable sites are in Tokyo, Osaka, and their suburbs," said JDCC executive director Naohiro Masunaga. With nearly all the options exhausted, businesses have no choice but to encroach into residential areas. As demand for data handling explodes, facilities are becoming larger and larger. Hyperscale data centers -- facilities with a total floor space of more than 15,000 square meters -- have become common, with their integrated server farms meeting the processing needs of rapidly growing cloud computing, big data, and generative AI functions. Fumito Haga, manager of Fuji Chimera Research Institute, said, "There is no doubt that the number of giant data centers will continue to increase." Some municipalities are taking matters into their own hands. In April, Tokyo's Koto Ward started requiring data center business owners to install signs announcing construction earlier than previously and to clearly indicate the location of heat-emitting outdoor units. Inzai has begun considering whether to set restrictions on the construction of data centers near residential areas. JDCC's Masunaga said, "Right now, anxiety is prevailing. It is important for business owners to disclose information and steadily work to build trust with the communities affected." Related coverage: Street in Asakusa claimed as longest shotengai in Japan FOCUS:Japan residents with foreign roots raise voices over racial profiling Land prices up in half of Japan's rural areas for 1st time in 33 yrs


Japan Today
15-06-2025
- Business
- Japan Today
Tokyoites push back against IT giants' encroaching data behemoths
Photo taken in May in Hachioji, western Tokyo, shows a banner protesting the construction of a data center across the road in Hino. By Hiroki Kawasumi Discontent is growing in the Tokyo metropolitan area due to proposals to construct giant data centers in residential areas, with industry groups working to smooth relations between locals concerned about the "eerie" facilities' imposing nature and the companies that operate them. Despite tech companies investing heavily to build the massive digital hubs to meet the storage and processing demands of cloud computing and artificial intelligence, some projects are being scrapped due to opposition from residents worried about electricity shortages, heat islands and obstruction of their natural light. In the city of Hino in Tokyo, a billboard announced the construction of three data centers, including a five-story, 72-meter-tall building scheduled for completion in 2031. As the tallest structure in the city, it would be the area's proverbial sore thumb. A residential association is demanding the project be paused until the plan conforms to a city ordinance that limits the height of apartment buildings to 25 meters. The facility, which will require tight security, would also consume a massive amount of electricity and generate significant levels of heat. "They haven't given us an acceptable explanation," said resident association head Eizo Tsutsumizaki, 71, referring to the project owner Mitsui Fudosan Co Ltd. Mitsui Fudosan is now considering whether the building's height can be reduced. As a tradeoff, it also plans to build a new park and sidewalk on the site to accommodate the community. In Inzai, Chiba Prefecture, home to many data centers, the city was flooded with calls of concern in April when plans were revealed for an over 50-meter-tall building housing a data center in a prime location in front of a station. It would add a new and imposing structure to the area, which already hosts 114 data centers, according to Mayor Kengo Fujishiro wrote on social media, "This place is the center of civic life. It is not an appropriate location for this facility." In Nagareyama, a city in the same prefecture, a plan that surfaced in 2022 to build a data center on a vacant lot south of the city hall had to be withdrawn due to opposition from residents. The clashes between residents and the technology behemoths stem from a lack of suitable sites in Japan, considered an attractive location. According to the Japan Data Center Council, Japan has better infrastructure and a stable political environment compared to other Asian countries, making it a prime location for large-scale technology investment. However, proposed sites tend to be located around large cities where it is easy to access workers and telecommunications infrastructure is robust. "The only suitable sites are in Tokyo, Osaka, and their suburbs," said JDCC executive director Naohiro Masunaga. With nearly all the options exhausted, businesses have no choice but to encroach into residential areas. As demand for data handling explodes, facilities are becoming larger and larger. Hyperscale data centers -- facilities with a total floor space of more than 15,000 square meters -- have become common, with their integrated server farms meeting the processing needs of rapidly growing cloud computing, big data, and generative AI functions. Fumito Haga, manager of Fuji Chimera Research Institute, said, "There is no doubt that the number of giant data centers will continue to increase." Some municipalities are taking matters into their own hands. In April, Tokyo's Koto Ward started requiring data center business owners to install signs announcing construction earlier than previously and to clearly indicate the location of heat-emitting outdoor units. Inzai has begun considering whether to set restrictions on the construction of data centers near residential areas. JDCC's Masunaga said, "Right now, anxiety is prevailing. It is important for business owners to disclose information and steadily work to build trust with the communities affected." © KYODO