Mickey Mikitani, Chairman and CEO, Rakuten Group Over nearly three decades of building and growing Rakuten, I have experienced both successes that energized me and failures that humbled me. What I’ve come to realize is this: Optimism is more than just a feeling; it’s a strategic approach. And…

Rakuten’s dedication to inclusion extends far beyond a single day, and this past March, the company amplified its commitment through a series of global initiatives for International Women’s Day (IWD). With the aim to “Empower, Inspire and Act,” Rakuten offices worldwide dedicated the entire month to fostering meaningful…

The jersey patch era is in full swing for the 2025 MLB season — and it’s changing the game. With 25 of 30 teams rocking sponsored patches, Major League Baseball is following the NBA and NHL into a new sponsorship frontier. From hometown heroes to global giants, brands…

A glimpse of Japan’s robotic future has rolled into Tokyo. In November 2024, Rakuten launched a new autonomous delivery service in Tokyo’s Harumi neighborhood. As the name suggests, the service employs autonomous robots to deliver products from a number of local supermarkets, cafes and restaurants, serving around 24,000…

TikTok continues to dominate social media — especially in the sports and entertainment world. From highlight reels and behind-the-scenes content to creator collaborations and sponsored posts, teams, leagues, brands, and creators are leaning into short-form video to reach younger, highly engaged audiences. That’s why we expanded Blinkfire’s TikTok…

Rakuten brought its unique blueprint for “Intelligent Growth” to MWC Barcelona 2025, with an exciting schedule of speaker sessions, live demos, partnership meetings and more. Headlining the Rakuten Booth Theater on Day 2 of the show was Rakuten Group Chairman and CEO…

As the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) kicks off their 2025 season, kit sponsorships continue to be one of the most valuable assets for teams and brands alike. From global powerhouses to rising industry disruptors, the logos on the front of NWSL kits tell a compelling story about…

In today’s era of rising wages, inflation and labor shortages, the stakes couldn’t be higher for Japan’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). And while generative AI and AI-powered services are creating unprecedented opportunities for businesses to enhance customer experiences and drive growth, a recent Rakuten survey found that…

Formula 1 fans have had March circled on their calendars, eagerly awaiting the return of the world’s fastest sport. The 2025 season roared to life with high expectations, fresh storylines, and an electric atmosphere. Now, with the Australian and Chinese Grands Prix in the books, we’re diving into…

By Mickey Mikitani, Chairman and CEO, Rakuten Group As a foundational part of humanity’s infrastructure in the 21st century, mobile network operators now have a responsibility to deliver low-cost connectivity to their users. Where the necessary infrastructure is in place, mobile connectivity should be considered a human right. I…