Mickey's Voice
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Blog
We must embrace AI, but we also need to stay human
Mickey Mikitani, Chairman and CEO, Rakuten Group 2024 is the year Rakuten evolves into an AI empowerment company. At last month’s Rakuten Ichiba New Year Conference, I spoke to over 8,000 merchants from across the country about the future of Japan’s largest online shopping mall. About 30 years ago, many of these merchants were selling their wares in physical stores, or through cat…
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Mickey's Voice
Generative AI, new milestones and future growth: Reflections on last year’s achievements and looking ahead to 2024
Mickey Mikitani, Chairman and CEO, Rakuten Group On behalf of the Rakuten Group, please allow me to extend our heartfelt condolences and offer our deepest sympathies to all those who lost their lives and were affected by the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake on January 1. We join with the international community in praying for a swift recovery for the region. Rakuten Mobile is working to provide supp…
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1&1’s mobile network launch is a milestone for telecom – and a major step forward in Rakuten’s mission to transform the industry
Left to right: Mickey Mikitani (Rakuten Group, Chairman and CEO), Daniela Schmitt (Minister for Economic Affairs, Transport, Agriculture and Viticulture of the State of Rhineland-Palatinate), Dr. Volker Wissing (Federal Minister for Digital Affairs and Transport), Ralph Dommermuth (1&1 AG, CEO) By Mickey Mikitani, Chairman and CEO, Rakuten Group Europe’s most modern mobile network is now fully…
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Why the theme is tech & green: Mickey Mikitani at Rakuten Optimism 2022
Rakuten Optimism, Rakuten’s largest annual business conference, is a Group-wide event that aims to enhance and enrich the extended Rakuten family’s brand, ecosystem and partnerships. Held in Japan since 2019, Rakuten Optimism 2022 was a virtual event held over two days on September 28-29. Some 114,000 people registered to participate, exceeding last year’s count, and the total viewership for…
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2023: Innovation, operations and creativity
Mickey Mikitani, Chairman and CEO, Rakuten Group Last year marked Rakuten’s 25th anniversary, and as the world continues to experience rapid change, both technological and social, we also see many opportunities ahead. Our vision is to become a global innovation company. To be a leader in innovation, we must remind ourselves of why we are here. Why are we doing this together? I distill the answer d…
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Everyone Is Your Teacher
Mickey Mikitani, Chairman and CEO, Rakuten Group What could you learn if everyone you met could also be your teacher? It is common for people in business to seek out a mentor or advisor. I was asked recently at a staff meeting what I consider the attributes of the ideal role model to be. Many assume that to be successful, one needs a single, dedicated guide – a sensei – to give sage advice and dir…
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Rakuten welcomes 2022 new grads in person in Tokyo
Every April, companies across Japan welcome hundreds of thousands of fresh university graduates from across the country to join their ranks as full-time employees. Rakuten held this year’s annual spring entrance ceremony for new grads in person for the first time since 2019, after quickly pivoting to a work from home model and fully-virtualized entrance ceremony at the beginning of the pande…
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Mickey Mikitani on sustainability, Japan’s e-commerce potential and an ambitious ten trillion yen goal
Every January, Japan’s leading e-commerce platform hits the ground running with the Rakuten Ichiba New Year Conference. The conference is an opportunity for the thousands of merchants who attend online and in person to hear Rakuten perspectives on what’s ahead for e-commerce, including frank and open comments from Rakuten CEO Mickey Mikitani. Halfway to 10 trillion In 2021, Rakuten reached a signi…
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A three-point decision-making framework: Profit, passion & public good
Mickey Mikitani, Chairman and CEO, Rakuten Group The world is full of great ideas. But which ones will come to fruition? “Deciding which projects get our time and attention are critical choices that shape our future.” MICKEY MIKITANI, CHAIRMAN AND CEO, RAKUTEN GROUP As a leader, it’s important not to leave that decision to chance. Deciding which projects get our time and attention are critical cho…
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