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SoftBank-OpenAI Japan JV Delayed: What It Means for Japan’s Tech Industry and Businesses

A joint venture between SoftBank and OpenAI in Japan, originally expected to be established by summer 2025, has been significantly delayed. The planned entity, called SB OpenAI Japan, is intended to deliver AI services to Japanese corporate customers. While SoftBank maintains that preparations are underway, details are scarce, and an updated status is expected in November 2025. Earlier, the CEO of SoftBank’s telecom unit, Junichi Miyakawa, had set the target launch date at the end of July. That deadline came and went without the JV being formally operational. Background: What Was Planned SB OpenAI Japan was announced in February 2025 during a SoftBank-OpenAI partnership reveal. The goal: to offer AI services (including 'Cristal intelligence') to Japanese enterprises. SoftBank’s CEO Masayoshi Son and OpenAI’s Sam Altman committed to making this JV…