Mickey’s Voice

Insights from our CEO

  • Rakuten Group Chairman & CEO Mickey Mikitani spoke to over 8,000 merchants on the future of Japan's largest online shopping platform.

    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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  • Rakuten Group Chairman and CEO Mickey Mikitani reflects on Rakuten's milestones in 2023 and looks ahead to 2024 with the future of AI.

    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 officially operates its mobile network commercial service, becoming the first and only cloud-native mobile network operator in Europe built on Open RAN.

    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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  • Rakuten Group Chairman & CEO Mickey Mikitani addressed the importance of becoming a leader in green during the Rakuten Optimism 2022 business conference.

    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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  • Rakuten Group Chairman and CEO Mickey Mikitani addressed employees on the company's vision for 2023 at the opening of business in the new year.

    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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  • Rakuten CEO Mickey Mikitani shares his thoughts on finding the right kind of mentorship and emphasizes how everyone can be your teacher.

    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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  • On April 1, 2022, Rakuten Group Chairman and CEO Mickey Mikitani delivered his annual welcome speech to new grads in person for the first time since 2019.

    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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  • During the 2022 Rakuten Ichiba New Year Conference, Rakuten CEO Mickey Mikitani shared perpectives on what's ahead for e-commerce in Japan.

    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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  • Rakuten Group Chairman and CEO Mickey Mikitani shares his simple decision-making system with a three-point framework.

    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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  • Rakuten CEO Mickey Mikitani reflects on the tremendous progress achieved in 2021 and shares his vision for 2022, Rakuten's 25th anniversary.

    Celebrating a quarter century of optimism: Thoughts on the new year

    Mickey Mikitani, Chairman and CEO, Rakuten Group First and foremost, I’d like to wish everyone a happy and healthy new year. This year marks Rakuten’s 25th anniversary — 25 years of tremendous growth across e-commerce, sports, fintech, mobile and many other industries. Let’s take a brief look back at 2021 and the great progress achieved thanks to the commitment and hard work of all our employees,…

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