Rakuten, Inc. is a diversified internet services company based in Tokyo, Japan, and founded in 1997 by Hiroshi Mikitani, who continues to serve as chairman and chief executive officer. Originally established as an online marketplace, Rakuten has expanded its reach to become a global technology group offering a wide range of digital services and consumer-facing platforms. The company is listed in Japan but its American depositary receipts trade over the counter under the symbol RKUNY.
At the core of Rakuten’s business is its e-commerce marketplace, Rakuten Ichiba, which hosts millions of merchants and serves tens of millions of customers across Japan and other key markets. Complementing its retail operations, the company provides digital content through subsidiaries such as Rakuten Kobo for e-reading and Rakuten TV for streaming, alongside communications services including the Viber messaging platform.
Rakuten has built a significant presence in financial technology, offering online banking, credit card services, securities trading and electronic money in its home market and select international regions. Its loyalty program, Rakuten Super Points, ties together its retail, banking and digital offerings to drive customer engagement and recurring usage across its platforms.
In recent years, Rakuten expanded into telecommunications with the launch of Rakuten Mobile in Japan, pioneering a cloud-native network model. The company also operates a global advertising and marketing unit that leverages data analytics to deliver targeted campaigns for brands. Through strategic investments and partnerships, Rakuten continues to pursue growth in digital and fintech ecosystems worldwide.
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