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Japan has taken a major step toward strengthening its leadership in high performance and scientific computing with the unveiling of two next generation supercomputers powered by NVIDIA’s Blackwell architecture. The systems, developed in partnership with Japan’s leading research institute RIKEN, are designed to push the boundaries of artificial intelligence, materials science, climate modelling and quantum computing.
The first system incorporates approximately 1,600 NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs connected through NVIDIA’s advanced GB200 NVL4 platform and high speed InfiniBand networking. This machine will support a wide spectrum of scientific workloads, including simulations in life sciences, new material discovery and next generation manufacturing. The second system, equipped with about 540 Blackwell GPUs, is dedicated to quantum related research and hybrid quantum classical workflows, enabling researchers to test and refine quantum algorithms at scale.
Both supercomputers are expected to become operational in the spring of 2026, serving as precursors to the country’s ambitious FugakuNEXT initiative planned for 2030. Together, they represent a forward looking investment in computing capacity that can support Japan’s long term scientific and industrial goals.
For Japan, the new systems address several strategic priorities. They strengthen domestic computing sovereignty at a time when nations are competing to build secure and powerful AI infrastructure. They also ensure that Japan remains competitive in the rapidly evolving field of AI for science, where AI models are increasingly used to accelerate simulations and reduce the time required for complex research tasks.
For NVIDIA, the partnership expands its growing role as a provider of complete, end to end platforms for high performance and scientific computing. Rather than supplying isolated components, the company is now offering full stacks that combine hardware, networking and software tools to support AI and quantum workloads.
The broader implications of these machines extend beyond national borders. As supercomputers evolve to blend traditional high performance workloads with generative AI and quantum simulation, they set the standard for the next decade of scientific research. Japan’s investment will likely influence global competition, encourage new collaborations and inspire similar projects in other regions.
