Mickey's Voice
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Blog
Mikitani to engineers: Here’s what’s next
“We need to talk about AI. What is going to happen? To business, to you, to the community, to the country, to the world?” At the 17th Rakuten Technology Conference, held on November 15, 2025, Rakuten Group Chairman and CEO Mickey Mikitani challenged an auditorium of engineers to rethink their assumptions around AI. The theme of the day: AI-nization with U. “Is this another incremental innovation,…
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Agentic AI will redefine business
Mickey Mikitani, Chairman and CEO, Rakuten Group Of the major shifts that have shaped modern business, two moments stand out very clearly to me: the arrival of the personal computer, and the rise of the internet. Both changed how we work, compete, and connect, rewarding those who adapted quickly, and leaving behind those who couldn’t. Today, we stand on the precipice of something even bigger: AI a…
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Reshaping global customer value: Mickey Mikitani on digital ecosystems at IMC 2025
At the 9th India Mobile Congress, Asia’s largest telecom, media and technology event held from October 8-11 in New Delhi, India, Rakuten Group Chairman and CEO Mickey Mikitani painted a vivid picture of how integrated digital ecosystems are not just driving innovation and efficiency, but fundamentally reshaping customer value worldwide. Inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the…
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Mickey's Voice
Mickey Mikitani: The age of agentic AI has arrived
“This year, we’ve renamed our flagship event from Rakuten Optimism to Rakuten AI Optimism, reflecting our belief that AI is fundamentally transforming the world.” Kicking off the sixth iteration of Rakuten’s biggest annual business conference, Rakuten Group Chairman and CEO Mickey Mikitani had a clear message: artificial intelligence is not a trend, but a foundational force. “When I started Rakute…
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Blending the best of Japan with the best of the world
Mickey Mikitani, Chairman and CEO, Rakuten Group When people ask me what makes Rakuten unique, my answer is simple: we are a Japanese company with a global mindset. We stay rooted in Japan while embracing the wider world – a crucial balance that has been a key foundation of our success. I started Rakuten with a clear vision. I wanted to challenge the status quo – not just here in Japan, but global…
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Optimism is more than just a feeling; it’s a strategy
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 when navigating uncertainty, setbacks and change, it’s one of the most powerful tools in our arsenal…
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People are entitled to low-cost mobile connectivity
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 recently spoke on stage at the World Governments Summit in…
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Supercharging Rakuten’s merchants with AI: CEO Mikitani
“When I started Rakuten over 25 years ago, artificial intelligence was the realm of The Matrix. Today, that reality is closer than ever.” At Rakuten’s annual New Year Conference in Tokyo, Chairman and CEO Mickey Mikitani delivered this message to over 50,000 Rakuten Ichiba merchants around Japan. One major theme of the event was No AI, No Future – a call to action for all businesses, large and sma…
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Mobile, fintech and AI: Why I’m excited about 2025
Mickey Mikitani, Chairman and CEO, Rakuten Group As we step boldly into another new year, I find myself energized by the transformative journey we’ve undertaken at Rakuten. In 2024, industries around the world experienced an unprecedented technological acceleration, amid which we not only achieved significant business milestones, but also reinforced our commitment to empowering digital innovation,…
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