An Asahi Shimbun article reporting that the UAE’s ambassador visited the planned site of an AI data center in Akita Prefecture became a hot topic on 5ch.
Reports suggest that once fully operational, the facility could consume roughly half of Akita Prefecture’s total electricity usage, sparking a heated debate over the massive amounts of cooling water required, low-frequency noise, higher electricity bills, and real-world examples of resident opposition movements in the United States.
Can AI Data Centers Save Rural Japan? UAE Ambassador Visits Planned Site in Akita [Akita Prefecture] [The Age of AI]: Asahi Shimbun
August 19, 2026, 11:44 AM — Paid article
江湖良二, 上田学, Staff Writer: 篠健一郎
Source: asahi.com / Original article here
It uses a ton of water and there's a risk of contamination
Rice farming's gonna be finished, isn't it?
Between this and the "R" thing, Akita Prefecture seems shady
Rice farming's gonna be finished, isn't it?
Between this and the "R" thing, Akita Prefecture seems shady
>>8
It's not a nuclear plant, so I don't get how it would cause contamination
It's not a nuclear plant, so I don't get how it would cause contamination
Building it in a cold region isn't a bad idea
Might as well put all that snow to efficient use too
Might as well put all that snow to efficient use too
>>14
If they can just keep dumping snow on it endlessly, that might actually work out well
If they can just keep dumping snow on it endlessly, that might actually work out well
There's a surprising amount of opposition to building data centers — kind of don't get it, since there's no real noise or pollution involved
>>177
Apparently the low-frequency noise is on par with standing right under a wind turbine lol
Apparently the low-frequency noise is on par with standing right under a wind turbine lol
>>177
A huge warehouse-like building suddenly pops up right in the middle of town
And it's basically like placing a giant shichirin (charcoal grill) in the middle of the city — it heats up the whole surrounding area lol
Nothing good in it for the residents lol
A huge warehouse-like building suddenly pops up right in the middle of town
And it's basically like placing a giant shichirin (charcoal grill) in the middle of the city — it heats up the whole surrounding area lol
Nothing good in it for the residents lol
>>177
In Phoenix, USA, and in Texas, it's already turned into a political issue — pro-data-center state legislators have lost their seats while anti-data-center candidates have won
In Phoenix, USA, and in Texas, it's already turned into a political issue — pro-data-center state legislators have lost their seats while anti-data-center candidates have won
Prefectures without a single data center are basically IT backwaters
https://blogs.ricoh.co.jp/RISB/20220201_04.png
Places with zero probably don't even have fiber-optic lines running through them
https://blogs.ricoh.co.jp/RISB/20220201_04.png
Places with zero probably don't even have fiber-optic lines running through them
>>282
Yeah, I don't get people going on about "the water, the water"
It's not like they're manufacturing semiconductors, so it's not going to get contaminated
Yeah, I don't get people going on about "the water, the water"
It's not like they're manufacturing semiconductors, so it's not going to get contaminated
>>288
Well, it is true that they evaporate it like crazy and use an insane amount, though
Well, it is true that they evaporate it like crazy and use an insane amount, though
Electricity bills will definitely go up, and that burden falls on residents
>>292
Wouldn't a place like Akita actually be able to sell off surplus power, which would lower residents' electricity bills?
Wouldn't a place like Akita actually be able to sell off surplus power, which would lower residents' electricity bills?
>>292
In Japan it'll probably just get passed on as a burden to every single Japanese person lol
In Japan it'll probably just get passed on as a burden to every single Japanese person lol
>>292
Since when are electricity rates calculated per city?
It's calculated across all of Tohoku Electric Power's service area, so one more data center is only a tiny marginal increase
Since when are electricity rates calculated per city?
It's calculated across all of Tohoku Electric Power's service area, so one more data center is only a tiny marginal increase
>>1
Data centers are kind of outdated tech, aren't they
They consume massive amounts of electricity and generate enormous heat, which negatively affects the surrounding environment
In fact, in the US, which is further along on this, residents are actively pursuing class-action lawsuits and legal opposition movements
Data centers are kind of outdated tech, aren't they
They consume massive amounts of electricity and generate enormous heat, which negatively affects the surrounding environment
In fact, in the US, which is further along on this, residents are actively pursuing class-action lawsuits and legal opposition movements
>>443
What specifically counts as environmental damage here?
What specifically counts as environmental damage here?
>>457
Apparently it's pretty noisy.
There's a constant "whirrrr" sound, 24/7, 365 days a year.
Not an issue if there's no housing nearby, though.
Apparently it's pretty noisy.
There's a constant "whirrrr" sound, 24/7, 365 days a year.
Not an issue if there's no housing nearby, though.
>>457
Of course, the power draw isn't like a factory's — it's the equivalent of an entire city's electricity consumption
And the huge volume of cooling water is enough for millions of people in a single day, so it's on par with a whole city's water supply
Air pollution and health damage from the huge number of diesel generators
The diesel generators are seriously the number one issue that gets residents riled up
Basically, every single aspect of the scale here is just on a completely different order of magnitude lol
Of course, the power draw isn't like a factory's — it's the equivalent of an entire city's electricity consumption
And the huge volume of cooling water is enough for millions of people in a single day, so it's on par with a whole city's water supply
Air pollution and health damage from the huge number of diesel generators
The diesel generators are seriously the number one issue that gets residents riled up
Basically, every single aspect of the scale here is just on a completely different order of magnitude lol
Tohoku's population is shrinking anyway, so instead of just flatly saying "no way!", show some spirit and squeeze every yen you can out of them!!
>>498
The ones shouting "no way!" look like outsiders to me
When Akita Prefecture itself is saying "let's build it!" lol
If they've got their own wind power, it's win-win
The ones shouting "no way!" look like outsiders to me
When Akita Prefecture itself is saying "let's build it!" lol
If they've got their own wind power, it's win-win
>>498
The locals were on board with this from the start
It's the non-locals who are saying no
The locals were on board with this from the start
It's the non-locals who are saying no
>>498
This is a business for the wealthy, and it'll wreck ordinary people's food supply in the process
Is there really anyone who wants to cheer on the rich here?
This is a business for the wealthy, and it'll wreck ordinary people's food supply in the process
Is there really anyone who wants to cheer on the rich here?
Apparently, once it's fully up and running, this data center alone will use about 50% of Akita Prefecture's current total electricity consumption
>>554
Why not just cover the fallow rice paddies with solar panels?
Why not just cover the fallow rice paddies with solar panels?
>>554
Well, if a foreign-owned data center ends up taking such a disproportionately large share, I think they should be made to shoulder their portion of the electrical infrastructure costs — squeeze the money out of them
They obviously shouldn't get treated the same as an ordinary domestic company
Well, if a foreign-owned data center ends up taking such a disproportionately large share, I think they should be made to shoulder their portion of the electrical infrastructure costs — squeeze the money out of them
They obviously shouldn't get treated the same as an ordinary domestic company
This article is compiled from excerpts and a summary of the 5ch (Breaking News Plus) thread “Can AI Data Centers Save Rural Japan? UAE Ambassador Visits Planned Site in Akita.”
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