Fujitsu and Nutanix Partner to Enhance Japanese Language AI Capabilities
Fujitsu has partnered with Nutanix to make its Japanese language-optimized large language model (LLM), Takane, available on the Nutanix Enterprise AI (NAI) platform. This validation certifies Takane as a deployable LLM via NAI, which supports generative AI (GenAI) models both on-premise and in public clouds, as well as on the Nutanix Cloud Platform (NCP) hybrid multicloud platform.
Fujitsu claims that Takane offers superior performance for Japanese language tasks compared to general-purpose LLMs, addressing specific linguistic challenges such as mixed character sets (hiragana, katakana, and kanji), omitted subjects, and nuanced honorific expressions common in Japanese business communication. This development targets enterprises, particularly in Japan, that are looking to leverage GenAI but face challenges with the accuracy of global models or need to deploy AI workloads in private environments due to data sensitivity, regulatory compliance, or latency requirements.
This marks the first time a Japanese-language-enhanced LLM has been validated for Nutanix’s AI platform. The Takane model running on NAI will initially be offered through Fujitsu’s PrimeFlex integrated virtualization platform for Nutanix. Fujitsu stated that this will support the creation of reliable AI infrastructure for organizations where public cloud use is restricted.
The collaboration addresses the need for hybrid deployments where development might occur in the public cloud but production runs on-premise or at the edge. Fujitsu noted that compatibility with NAI and NCP simplifies the migration and integrated management of AI applications and data across these different environments.
Japan’s Sovereign AI Push
The Fujitsu-Nutanix collaboration comes amid a significant push by Japan to develop domestic LLM capabilities. Driven by linguistic needs, data sovereignty concerns, and national economic strategy, Japanese tech giants and research institutions have been investing in foundation models trained predominantly on Japanese data. Notable efforts include NTT’s ‘tsuzumi’ LLM and SoftBank’s investments in GenAI development.
The Japanese government has signaled strong support for building a domestic AI ecosystem, viewing it as crucial for the country’s competitiveness and ensuring AI models align with Japanese cultural and business contexts. Fujitsu’s move to make Takane deployable on an enterprise hybrid cloud platform like Nutanix can be seen as a key step in operationalizing these domestic AI ambitions, providing Japanese enterprises with options for leveraging GenAI securely in their own infrastructure.
Fujitsu plans to offer Takane on NAI as a managed service starting in July 2025, complemented by its existing Fujitsu Cloud Managed Service offering.
