Sovereign AI initially emerged as an extension of the concept of data sovereignty. Recently, it has gained traction amid growing concerns over the dominance of U.S.-based large language models and the escalating technological rivalry between the U.S. and China. At its core, Sovereign AI represents a nation’s effort to bolster its strategic autonomy by developing domestic AI capabilities. For Japan, embracing Sovereign AI is not just a matter of innovation—it's essential to safeguarding longterm economic competitiveness in a rapidly evolving global landscape.