IIJ Group to Strengthen R&D Organization

TOKYO, July 1, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Internet Initiative Japan Inc. (IIJ)
(Nasdaq:IIJI) (TSE1:3774), one of Japan's leading Internet access and
comprehensive network solutions providers, today announced it will transfer
control of its Internet technology research division, the IIJ Research
Laboratory, to 100%-owned subsidiary IIJ Innovation Institute Inc. (IIJ-II) on
July 1, 2009. This move will strengthen our R&D organization for next-generation
Internet technology by focusing these activities in IIJ-II, which will allow us
to ramp up our R&D efforts for the future and create businesses based on the
products of this R&D.

Background

The IIJ Research Laboratory was established as a division of IIJ in 1998, and it
was responsible for R&D of network technologies for the next decades, such as
IPv6. IIJ-II was established as a corporation in 2008 to recruit technologists
who had ideas for new technology from the general public and to assist in the
development of these ideas for commercialization with the objective of creating
new Internet infrastructure technology originating in Japan.

The purpose of this transfer is to establish a group R&D center and actively
apply the new technology acquired through public solicitation, as well as that
developed by the research laboratory, to new IIJ Group service and business
development. We hope to create a synergy among the group companies through the
sharing of the knowledge and elemental technology amassed through various
research projects.

IIJ-II Research Perspective

IIJ-II sees the next-generation Internet not simply as a network through which
computers can communicate but as a place to produce new value through the
dynamic and organic connection and processing of the ubiquitous Internet users,
fragmented information and virtual computing resources to meet a variety of
purposes. IIJ-II's purpose is to engage in the research and development of
infrastructure technology to achieve this goal.

In addition to the messaging, mobile communications, next-generation network
management, and network measurement and analysis technology developed by the IIJ
Research Laboratory, IIJ-II will approach the development of new network and
system architecture, and the development of businesses that use this technology,
from both the application and infrastructure side to create the next-generation
Internet.

The IIJ Group will continue to show initiative in the network technology sector
and work to advance the Internet.

About IIJ-II

IIJ Innovation Institute Inc. (IIJ-II) was established in June 2008 as a
subsidiary within the IIJ group. IIJ-II provides business incubation services
with the goal of developing technological innovations for the next-generation
Internet and new business models. IIJ is leveraging its years of Internet
technology and business experience to promote R&D and commercialization support
for Internet development. For details, see http://www.iij-ii.co.jp/.

The IIJ Innovation Institute logo is available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5228

About IIJ

Founded in 1992, Internet Initiative Japan Inc. (IIJ) (Nasdaq:IIJI) (Tokyo Stock
Exchange TSE1:3774) is one of Japan's leading Internet-access and comprehensive
network solutions providers. IIJ and its group of companies provide total
network solutions that mainly cater to high-end corporate customers. The
company's services include high-quality systems integration and security
services, Internet access, hosting/housing, and content design. Moreover, the
company has built one of the largest Internet backbone networks in Japan, and
between Japan and the United States. IIJ was listed on NASDAQ in 1999 and on the
First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2006. For more information about
IIJ, visit the IIJ Web site at http://www.iij.ad.jp/en/.

The Internet Initiative Japan Inc. logo is available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=4613

The statements within this release contain forward-looking statements about our
future plans that involve risk and uncertainty. These statements may differ
materially from actual future events or results. Readers are referred to the
documents furnished by Internet Initiative Japan Inc. with the SEC, specifically
the most recent reports on Forms 20-F and 6-K, which identify important risk
factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the
forward-looking statements.

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CONTACT: IIJ Corporate Communications
+81-3-5259-6310
press@iij.ad.jp
http://www.iij.ad.jp/en/