JON ADAMS JERDE TRAVELING FELLOWSHIP
Summer 2023 / USC Architecture
William Youngsuk Yun, B.Arch ’24
As a recipient of the Jon Adams Jerde Traveling Fellowship, I had privilege of embarking on a research trip to Tokyo to delve into its dynamic data center landscape. The objective of this journey was to gain insights into innovative technologies, infrastructure, and practices shaping Tokyo’s data center industry.
Tokyo Highline
My first impression upon arriving in Tokyo was one of awe and excitement. The bustling streets, towering sky-scrapers, and vibrant energy of the city immediately captured my attention, setting a stage for an unforgettable
resrach experience.
Tokyo stood out to me as an ideal location for studying data centers due to
several key factors. Firstly, Tokyo serves as a global hub for technology and
innovation, with a robust infrastructure and a concentration of leading data
center facilities. Secondaly, Japan’s reputation for resilience and disaster preparedness made it particularly intriguing to explore how data centers mitigate
the risks associated with natural disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons.
Lastly, Tokyo’s diverse and dybamic business environment presented ample
opportunities to engage with industry experts and gain insights into emerging
trends and best practices in data center mangement.
My journey began with a visit to the NTT Docomo data center in Minato City.
NTT Docomo, one of Japan’s major telecom companies, operates this state
of the art facility, strategically located in the herat of the city. Surrounded by
various infrastructures such as bus routes, subway stations, and an overapss
road, the data center is seamlessly intergrated into Tokyo’s urban landscape.
Moreover, the presence of a small river nearby adds to a unique environment
surrounding the data center.
The NTT Docomo data center exemplified cutting edge technologies and robust infrastructure that power Tokyo’s data centers. From advanced cooling systems to stringent security measure, the facility showcased a commitment to excellence and reliability.
NTT Docomo Data Center/ NTT Docomo data center entrance#2
Following my visit to NTT Docomo, I ventured to the SoftBank data center in Shinagawa City. Located in a rich neighborhood, the SoftBank data center blended seamlessly into its surroundings, devoid of any external signage that would indicate its purpose. This inconspicuousness, combined with its high-level security, posed challenges in identifying and accessing the data center. The language barrier further complicated matters, as guards and re-ception desk staff primarily communicated in Japanese, making it difficult to gather information about the facility.
Despite these challenges, the SoftBank data center of-fered valuable insights into intricacies of dta center op-erations and security measures. While I couldn’t glean as much information as desired due to language bar-riers and stringent security protocols, the experience underscored importance of effective communication and cultural understanding in navigating Tokyo’s data center landscape.
Following my visits to the NTT Docomo and SoftBank data centers, I had a opportunity to explore one of Fu-jitsu Data Center in Ota City. Fujitsu, a worldwide data center provider, operates this impressive facility, which left a lasting impression on me.
The Fujitsu Data Center in Ota City is nestled amidst a harmonious environment, surrounded by essential in-frastructures that complement its operations. Subway lines intersect nearby, electric power plants stand adjacent to the data center, and numerous commercial stores populate the vicinity. This integration of diverse elements within close proximity contributes to the overall resilience and efficiency of the data center ecosystem.
Fujitsu Data Center in Ota City
Ota City is located far from Tokyo. Tokyo is one of the mega cities in the world, so density is very packed. However, the Fujitsu Data Center has much enough land, so may be they can well organize infratructures what they need to maintain the data center.
Overcoming language barriers, I utilized a translator app to communicate with the staff at the Fujitsu Data Center. Introducing myself as an architecture student from USC, I was granted an interview opportunity with a Fujitsu of-ficer. Despite the language challenges, the officer provid-ed valuable insights into the data center’s architecture and operational systems. However, due to security protocols, photography inside the dta center was not permitted.
My interactions at the Fujitsu Data Center underscored the importance of effective communication and cultural understanding in navigating Tokyo’s data center landscape. Despite the challenges, the experience deepened my appreciation for the complexities and nuances inherent in the field of data center management.
I knew I would have lnaguage difficulty in Japan, but this is more than what I expected. All of them cannot speak English and don’t have representatives, so I couldn’t have much communication. This is my unsatisfied part.
I am thankful to the Jon Adams Jerde Traveling Fellowship for providing me with the opportunity to explore Ja-pans’ data centers. This experience has been invaluable in broadening my understanding of the critical role that data centers play in our increasingly digital world. As we transition from analog to digital storage, dta centers are becoming essential infrastructure for cities worlwide. Governments are also prioritizing the security of data and ata centers to safeguard against potential threats. Japan’s architecture and technologies are world-class, and study-ing their architectural principles and landscapes has been enlightening. I am eager to share the knowledge and insights gained from this journey to raise awareness about the importance of data centers. Once again, I extend my gratitude to the Jon Jerde Traveling Fellowhsip. This journey has instilled in me a heightned sense of duty and responsibility as a next-generation architect.