Rakuten’s largest interactive event returns as a free, on-site festival: Rakuten Optimism 2023
For the first time in four years, Rakuten Optimism 2023, the company’s largest interactive event, will mark a return to an in-person format.
United under the banner of “Technology for everyone”, visionaries and business leaders from around the world, together with leaders from across the Rakuten Group, will take to the stage for a three-day business conference at the Pacifico Yokohama event center. Presenters will touch on a variety of themes defining our current era, including e-commerce, fintech, sports, telecom and sustainability.
The AI era is already here. Transforming the way we live and work, digital transformation has the potential to revolutionize our society in ways we are only beginning to imagine. This year’s business conference will explore both the deep societal implications and boundless opportunities afforded by AI and other technologies.
Rakuten Optimism 2023 will also feature a five-day “Future Festival,” an interactive hands-on event that offers exciting experiences of cutting-edge AI, VR and AR technology and the immersive Rakuten Ecosystem.
Held from August 2 to August 6, admission for on-site event will be free of charge. Read on for a sneak peek into what to expect from Rakuten’s upcoming celebration of optimism.
A business conference for a new era of technology
The three-day business conference portion of Rakuten Optimism 2023 will have presenters dive deep into the societal implications and boundless opportunities afforded by AI and other technologies. This year’s edition of Rakuten Optimism includes an opening keynote by Rakuten Group Chairman and CEO Mickey Mikitani and sessions featuring Ibrahim Gedeon, Chief Technology Officer, TELUS; astronaut Soichi Noguchi, of Space Shuttle, Soyuz, SpaceX and CEO of Mirai Space Co., Ltd.; Yusuke Narita, Assistant Professor at Yale University and founder of Hanjuku-kaso Inc.; author Hirotada Ototake and many more.
The full roster for this year’s business conference will be announced in the near future, featuring more guest announcements and session details. Keep updated via the official Rakuten Optimism 2023 business conference page.
Celebrating the next phase of technology with “Future Festival”
At the interactive Future Festival event, participants can experience the breadth and depth of the Rakuten Ecosystem through the company’s diverse portfolio of services. Event booths offer visitors experiences of cutting-edge technology, including VR and AR powered by Rakuten Mobile’s 5G technology, AI-powered golf swing analysis and photo content and more.
In addition, visitors to the five-day festival will be able to purchase popular products from Rakuten Ichiba merchants nationwide, local delicacies from across Japan and organic vegetable smoothies from Rakuten Farm.
Rakuten’s official mascot Okaimono Panda – which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year – will have a dedicated area offering game content, a rest space and limited-edition 10th anniversary merchandise available for purchase. The event venue will be completely cashless and no prior registration is required for Future Festival.
Rakuten Optimism back in full force
Rakuten Optimism was first held in Japan at Pacifico Yokohama in 2019 and enjoyed by approximately 80,000 attendees in total. Held on-site for the first time in four years, Rakuten Optimism 2023 will allow participants to discover fresh and new aspects of the Rakuten Ecosystem.
In keeping with its emphasis on brighter futures, the event also plans to reduce carbon emissions from electricity consumption at the venue to net-zero through the use of carbon offsets, contributing to a more sustainable tomorrow as part of the Group’s Go Green Together project.
Through Rakuten Optimism 2023, the Group aims to expand the realm of possibilities enabled by technological breakthroughs and provide a platform where people can embark on a journey of discovery toward a more optimistic future.
For more details about Rakuten Optimism 2023, click here.
