Sports & Entertainment
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Blog
Vissel Kobe crowned Emperor’s Cup champions
On the first day of the new decade, Vissel Kobe made history when it captured its first-ever trophy — The Emperor’s Cup. The win capped off a memorable year for the Rakuten Group’s J.League club and proved to the soccer world that its investments in international superstars and top domestic talent are yielding results, bringing Vissel one step closer to its stated goal of becoming “the No.1…
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Blog
Tech, talk and tradition at the Davis Cup by Rakuten
Fans who visited the Davis Cup by Rakuten Madrid Finals 2019 in November hoping for a unique experience were not let down. In its new format, the 119-year-old “World Cup of Tennis” delivered some of the best matches of the year, and to the joy of the hometown crowd, ended with a breathtaking victory by the Spanish national team, led by the legendary Raphael Nadal. And the experience wa…
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Blog
Basketball finds its footing in Japan
A lot has changed since basketball debuted in Japan at a Tokyo YMCA in 1908. But that hasn’t stopped the sport from captivating new fans across the country with each generation. Propelled by the B.League’s successful launch in 2016, the growing popularity of basketball among young people and the rise of homegrown NBA players like rookie Rui Hachimura, the sport is currently enjoying unprecedented…
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Sports & Entertainment
The Rakuten Monkeys: A landmark new addition to the group in Taiwan
Backed by the beat of giant drums in a great hall in Taipei today, Rakuten welcomed a new member to the group: Professional baseball team the Rakuten Monkeys. Earlier this year, Rakuten announced its entry into the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) from the 2020 season through the acquisition of the Lamigo Monkeys. The Monkeys are based in Taoyuan, a city of over 2 million just south of…
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Sports & Entertainment
A new swing at the Davis Cup
What excitement! What passion! As Rakuten’s director of sports sponsorships, I was privileged to spend last week in Madrid watching the new Davis Cup by Rakuten Finals come to life and witnessing world number one Rafael Nadal lead Spain to victory in remarkable fashion. The Davis Cup, which was first held in 1900, is the oldest and most prestigious team event in tennis, full of memorable moments a…
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Rakuten Innovation
Rakuten’s “Everyday Spartans” follows eight ordinary people on a grueling, globe-trotting adventure to transform their lives
The last time the Spartan army took to the battlefields was more than 2,000 years ago. Over the millennia, their timeless heroism, fearlessness and willingness to fight against the odds have never ceased to inspire. But what would a modern Spartan look like? Introducing “Everyday Spartans” The original “Everyday Spartans” series is a tough and thoughtful exploration of this question. The show cent…
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Rakuten Innovation
Optimism and the Davis Cup
This year in June, Rakuten announced a bold new partnership with the World Cup of Tennis, stepping into the role of Global Innovation and Entertainment Partner and Global Presenting Partner for the Davis Cup. In preparation for the finals coming up later this month, the organizers of the tournament asked Rakuten Chairman and CEO Mickey Mikitani a few questions about Rakuten’s passion for spo…
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Rakuten Innovation
NBA Fan Night: Hoops legends, rock stars and Japan’s oldest active baller
October was an exciting month for NBA fans in Japan. For the first time since 2003, two teams — the 2019 NBA champion Toronto Raptors and the perennial challenger Houston Rockets —battled it out over two preseason contests in the greater Tokyo area for the NBA Japan Games 2019 Presented by Rakuten. The Japanese fans — many of whom had traveled across the country to witness the renaissance — were a…
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Sports & Entertainment
Djokovic bests Aussie qualifier Millman to take first Rakuten Open title
As the sun emerged from behind the afternoon clouds, the roof of the newly-renovated Ariake Coliseum in eastern Tokyo opened over a packed stadium of excited tennis fans, eager to catch the final of the biggest event in Japanese tennis—the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships (Rakuten Open). Rakuten’s presence in the world of international soccer and basketball has reached new heights with the…
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