Japan Artificial Intelligence
Japan’s rapidly expanding Artificial Intelligence (AI) market—valued at $8.9 billion in 2024 and projected to triple to $27.9 billion by 2029—offers significant opportunities for U.S. firms. With Japan’s government actively promoting AI adoption across industries and Japanese companies eager to collaborate, U.S. firms with advanced technologies and sector-specific expertise are well positioned to capture market share through partnerships, tailored solutions, and cross-border innovation.
AI is rapidly transforming Japanese industry priorities and reshaping how Japanese residents live and work. Driven by strong demand across healthcare, manufacturing, and finance, Japan’s AI market is experiencing accelerated growth. In healthcare, AI is playing a crucial role in diagnostic support systems and patient management. Japanese manufacturing industries are leveraging AI for quality control and predictive maintenance to boost production efficiencies and reduce costs. In the financial sector, Japanese firms utilize AI for risk management and fraud detection, with a strong emphasis on FinTech applications.
Despite increasing competition among companies offering AI services in Japan, U.S. tech firms have significant opportunities to enter or expand in Japan’s AI market by offering tailored solutions to address clients’ needs. U.S. companies can utilize their AI technical expertise to offer services across various industries. Partnerships with local Japanese firms can help U.S. companies target services to those Japanese industries and businesses that are embracing AI adoption to streamline and enhance operations. Many Japanese IT firms are eager to collaborate with U.S. companies to broaden AI utilization across Japanese industry sectors.
Underscoring the critical role of AI-related technologies in Japan’s economic and social advancement, on May 28, 2025 the Government of Japan implemented the Act on the Promotion of Research and Development and Utilization of AI-Related Technologies. The law establishes a foundational framework to foster AI innovation while managing associated risks and promotes two primary goals: stimulating economic growth and sustaining international competitiveness. An AI Strategic Office has been established to coordinate Japan’s policies on AI research, development, and deployment. Key initiatives include promoting R&D, expanding data infrastructure, securing skilled personnel, engaging in international standard-setting, and ensuring transparency. The roles of the government, local authorities, businesses, research institutions, and citizens are clearly defined. While businesses are expected to cooperate with government policies, compliance is currently voluntary with no penalties for non-compliance.
Japan’s AI market will likely continue to experience exponential grow and offers numerous business opportunities for U.S. firms even as competition intensifies. Many Japanese IT firms want to collaborate with U.S. IT firms that have advanced, cutting-edge technologies that can broaden Japan’s AI utilization. By working with Japanese partners, U.S. companies can develop and offer strategic AI solutions tailored to Japanese companies’ needs.
For more information, please contact US Commercial Service Japan at Office.Tokyo@trade.gov.