Sports & Entertainment

  • Blog
    KCON swept Los Angeles, bringing together over 140,000 attendees, for three days of K-Pop concerts, idol appearances, exciting brand activations, innovative products, Korean food and more.

    Rakuten Viki celebrates the rise of Asian entertainment at KCON LA 2023

    KCON, the largest fan celebration of Korean entertainment and culture in the U.S., swept Los Angeles from August 18-20, 2023, bringing together more than 140,000 attendees for three days of K-Pop concerts, idol appearances, exciting brand activations, innovative products, Korean food and more. And of course, Rakuten Viki, the leading destination for Asian content, was on the ground to delight fans…

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  • Blog
    Rakuten held the second World University Basketball Series (WUBS) in August 2023 and a special dance crew joined in and stole the half-time show.

    Dunks and dance dazzle at WUBS 2023

    Last month, Rakuten crowned the second World University Basketball Series (WUBS) champions: The National Chengchi University Griffins from Chinese Taipei! The Champions League-style tournament brought together top talent from eight universities in seven different countries and regions across Asia and beyond to duel it out in Tokyo over four days. The event culminated in a final bout between Japan&…

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  • Blog
    In pursuit of innovation and cultural exchange, and in a celebration of the art of Manga, Rakuten Europe participated in the Japan Expo held in Paris.

    Thrilling encounters at Japan Expo: Rakuten returns with an authentic showcase of Japanese technology and culture

    In its relentless pursuit of innovation and cultural exchange, and in a celebration of Japanese technology, culture and the art of Manga, Rakuten Europe recently participated in the Japan Expo held in Paris. The event, which took place at the Paris-Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre in July, proved to be a resounding success, connecting passionate Japan enthusiasts with the incredible digital servi…

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  • Blog
    On July 21, Rakuten's Taiwan Ecosystem Department hosted its much-awaited "Taiwan Rakuten Group Day” at the Rakuten Taoyuan Baseball Stadium.

    Taiwan Rakuten Group Day 2023: A celebration of sports, fans and the Okaimono Panda

    On July 21, Rakuten Taiwan Ecosystem Department hosted its much-awaited “Taiwan Rakuten Group Day” at the Rakuten Taoyuan Baseball Stadium, setting the stage for a showdown between the Rakuten Monkeys and the Uni-Lions in a thrilling baseball match. The Rakuten Group Day sought to draw together passionate Rakuten Monkeys fans, Rakuten Group employees, customers and business partners to enjoy…

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  • Blog
    The Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles and Vissel Kobe have taken on an innovative upcycling project to promote creative sustainability in sports.

    From banners to seat cushions: How the Rakuten Eagles and Vissel Kobe are leveraging creativity to promote upcycling in sports

    The Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles and Vissel Kobe, two prominent Japanese sports teams, have taken on an innovative upcycling project highlighting new and interesting ways to promote creative sustainability in sports. Instead of disposing of their stadiums’ exterior banners from the previous season, the teams collaborated with Rakuten’s Creative Design and Sports Partnership Activation…

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  • Blog
    Rakuten played host to Japan's biggest skateboarding event to date: Uprising Tokyo Supported by Rakuten.

    Japanese skaters wow hometown crowd at Uprising Tokyo

    Skateparks are thin on the ground in Japan, and the characteristic sound of skateboard wheels rarely reaches one’s ears. Yet when the sport burst onto the Olympic stage in 2021, Japanese skaters shocked the world with three gold-medal performances from four events. As the sport continues to pick up momentum, Rakuten played host to Japan’s biggest skateboarding event to date: Uprising T…

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  • Blog
    FC Barcelona and Vissel Kobe are set to meet in a friendly match on June 6 at 7:30 p.m. local time at the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo.

    Surging Vissel Kobe welcome back FC Barcelona to Japan for special friendly match

    For the first time since squaring off at the 2019 Rakuten Cup, FC Barcelona and Vissel Kobe are set to meet in a friendly match on Japanese soil. The game, taking place on June 6 at 7:30 p.m. local time at the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo, brings together two resurgent clubs with a friendly history on similar hot streaks. Underpinned by technological innovation, the match promises a thrilling d…

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  • Blog
    Rakuten is gearing up to host a star-studded skateboarding competition the likes of which Japan has never seen: Uprising Tokyo, Supported by Rakuten.

    Stars assemble for Japan’s biggest-ever skateboarding event: Uprising Tokyo

    Rakuten is gearing up to host a skateboarding competition the likes of which Japan has never seen: Uprising Tokyo, Supported by Rakuten. On May 26-28, 2023, Tokyo’s Ariake Arena will welcome some of the biggest names in street skating to battle it out for the inaugural Uprising title, on a world-class course designed by industry leader California Skateparks. The roster includes gold medalist…

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  • Blog
    The Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles are aiming to make their home stadium, Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi in Sendai, the most sustainable stadium in Japan.

    The Green Diamond: How the Rakuten Eagles are making a difference in sustainable sports

    The Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles are aiming to make their home stadium, Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi in Sendai, the most sustainable stadium in Japan. Photo by ©︎Rakuten Eagles The Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles are the beloved team representing Japan’s northeastern region of Tohoku in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league. As the NPB’s 2023 season kicks off, we’re taking a quick look at how t…

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