Q&A with Mozan Totani: Delivering AI-Ready Data Center Capacity to support Japan’s Digital Transformation

Meet Mozan Totani, a seasoned leader in the data center industry whose experience spans Asia Pacific, Europe, and the United States. Now leading Ada Infrastructure’s (Ada) APAC region, Mozan brings a track record from his six years at Amazon Web Services (AWS) as the APAC Director of Data Center Capacity and Delivery, during which time he managed an extensive portfolio across 10 countries. Before that, he served as the Global Head of Data Center Development and Delivery at Yahoo for eight years. Mozan shares insights into his journey, Ada's vision, and the future of the data center industry in Japan. 

Can you share your professional background and what brought you to Ada? 

I joined Ada in August 2024 after six years at AWS Japan, where I managed operations and delivery, building capacity across the APAC region. During that time, I was impressed by how quickly Ada has established itself in the global data center market through its differentiated scale and vision. This includes the 600MW capacity in Japan, which would make Ada one of the largest data center players here, as well as the leadership’s commitment to building sustainable digital infrastructure and a strong global brand trusted by customers. 

How does Japan's data center market compare globally, and what opportunities do you see there? 

Japan is poised for significant growth, with demand outpacing supply. The nation's strong utility infrastructure and increasing focus on digital transformation by the government make it attractive for both Japanese and international firms. However, challenges include supply chain issues and workforce shortages. 

What are the main supply chain and labor challenges in Japan, and how is Ada addressing them? 

Long lead times for materials like transformers and a shortage of general contractors are major hurdles. Ada is leveraging our global scale to build long-term relationships with top-tier contractors and strategic partnerships with trusted equipment suppliers. Efforts are also being made to engage major industry partners at a global level. At the same time, where possible we are sourcing equipment from Japanese suppliers, which also mitigates exposure to potential tariffs. 

In terms of labor challenges, we are partnering with a Tokyo-based university’s Women in Business student organization on an internship program. The six-month internship is designed to introduce students to the data center industry.  We are also leveraging training programs offered by our local and global suppliers to attract talent to our technical operational functions.  

How does Ada approach sustainability? 

Ada views sustainability as a long-term commitment to finding efficiencies and improving business outcomes, aligning its designs with the country’s needs and goals while building a global brand trusted by all customers. This includes considering broader societal challenges, such as Japan’s workforce shortages and economic sustainability, focusing beyond metrics like PUE or green building certifications. For example, in addition to offering customers access to clean energy sources, we are sourcing low carbon building materials and utilizing non-evaporative cooling systems that minimize water usage.  

What technologies excite you about the future of data centers in Japan? 

Liquid/immersion cooling within the data center is seen as essential for future high-density computing needs. The deployment of AI learning and inferencing models is pivotal for enhancing business productivity as well as advancing research in the fields like biotech/medicine and climate change, which can accelerate solutions to the challenges facing society today. Continuous infrastructure updates and innovations are necessary to meet these growing computational demands. Ada has the advantage of working with a clean slate to design future-ready data centers to meet customers’ high density compute requirements and other emerging technologies versus having to repurpose/retrofit legacy facilities. 

How does Ada address community concerns about data center developments? 

Ada prioritizes compliance with local regulations as well as a commitment to proactive community engagement. Among our community-focused initiatives, we have designated certain areas for parks and community centers, and taken part in neighborhood events, among others. Data center development and management are shown to have a strong local economic impact, often driving business growth and creating jobs that can help improve communities’ quality of life.  

Where do you see Ada in 2030 and beyond? 

Ada aims to lead in scalability and sustainability, leveraging its secured and future capacity in Japan to support Enterprise, Cloud and AI/ ML growth. By 2030, we expect to deliver a significant amount of our existing 600 MW of capacity in Japan and possibly expand to other APAC markets. The company’s long-term commitment to the region positions us to become a major strategic partner in the global data center industry.