IIJ Announces Director and Executive Officer Nominations.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 31, 2004

Internet Initiative Japan ("IIJ") (Nasdaq:IIJIE), one of Japan's leading Internet-access and comprehensive network solutions providers, today announced the nominations of the following candidates for positions on its Board of Directors Meeting.

Mr. Toshiya Asaba was nominated for the newly-created position of Executive Vice President. Mr. Asaba has served as a Managing Director and Chief Technology Officer of IIJ since June 2002. Mr. Asaba has also served as a Director of IIJ America, our 90.3% owned subsidiary, Asia Internet Holding, our 26.7% owned affiliate and Internet Multifeed, our 26.0% owned affiliate. Mr. Fukuzo Inoue was also nominated for the new position of Executive Vice President. Mr. Inoue has been Executive Manager of Public Relations Office of NTT Communications Corporation since 2002. Mr. Inoue has also served as a Director of Internet Multifeed, our 26.0% owned affiliate.

Three new Directors, Mr. Akihisa Watai, Mr. Yasurou Tanahashi and Mr. Takashi Hiroi, were nominated. Mr. Watai has been General Manager of Finance Division since April 2004. Mr. Tanahashi has been Chairman and Representative Director of NS Solutions Corporation. Mr. Hiroi has been Senior Manager of Department I of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation.

Two new Statutory Auditors were nominated. Mr. Masaki Okada is an attorney at law and works for Ishii Law Office. Mr. Masaaki Koizumi is a Japanese Certified Public Accountant and works for Koizumi Accounting Office.

As of June 24, 2004, Mr. Yasuhiro Nishi, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer, Mr. Bumpei Katayama, Statutory Auditor, and Mr. Yoshihiko Habe, Statutory Auditor, will resign their positions.

These nominations are subject to the approval of our shareholders at a meeting to be held on June 24, 2004 and to the approval of the Board of Directors at a meeting to be held on the same day. If such approvals are obtained, as of June 24, 2004, our directors and senior management will be as follows:

President         Mr. Koichi Suzuki      Chief Executive Officer and
                                          Representative Director
Executive Vice
 Presidents       Mr. Toshiya Asaba      Chief Technology Officer
                  Mr. Fukuzo Inoue (1)
Managing Director Mr. Hideshi Hojo       Division Director of the
                                          Sales Department
Directors         Mr. Takamichi Miyoshi  General Manager of Strategy
                                          Planning Division
                  Mr. Akihisa Watai (1)  Chief Financial Officer and
                                          Chief Accounting Officer
                  Mr. Kazumasa Utashiro
                  Mr. Yasurou Tanahashi (1)(2)
                  Mr. Takashi Hiroi (1)(2)
Standing Statutory
 Auditor          Mr. Hideki Matsushita
Statutory
 Auditors         Mr. Masaki Okada (1)
                  Mr. Masaaki Koizumi (1)
(1) New appointments
(2) Independent Directors

In additions, since May 27, 2004, Mr. Kazumasa Utashiro, who will continue to serve as Director of IIJ, has served as a Director General of the Japan Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Center (JPCERT/CC). JPCERT/CC is the first CSIRT (Computer Emergency Response Team) established in Japan. The organization coordinates with network service providers, security vendors, government agencies, as well as industry associations. As such, JPCERT/CC acts as a "CSIRT of the CSIRTs" in the Japanese community.

About IIJ

Founded in 1992, Internet Initiative Japan Inc. (IIJ, NASDAQ: IIJIE) is one of Japan's leading Internet-access and comprehensive network solutions providers. The company has built one of the largest Internet backbone networks in Japan, and between Japan and the United States. 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.

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.