Rakuten Books Launches “Asu Raku” Next-Day Delivery Service

TOKYO, January 28, 2013 – Rakuten, Inc. today announced the launch of “Asu Raku,” a next-day delivery service for the online bookstore Rakuten Books. The service will be available for approximately 700,000 products, including books, DVDs, and CDs, in the Kanto, Koshinetsu, Hokuriku, Tokai, and Kansai regions of Japan.

Through “Asu Raku,” eligible products purchased from Rakuten Books will be shipped out on the same day they are ordered if customers make their purchases by 11:59 A.M. The service is free – customers need only purchase products tagged with the “Asu Raku” mark to make use of it. In the event that an order placed by the 11:59 A.M. deadline is not delivered on the next day, the customer will be provided Rakuten Super Points equivalent to 5% of the total purchased amount.

To commemorate the launch of this service, Rakuten Books will be running a 500,000 Super Points Giveaway Campaign from 10:00 A.M. on Friday, February 1, 2013 to 9:59 A.M. on Friday, March 1, 2013. Customers who purchase “Asu Raku” eligible products worth a total of more than 1,500 yen (including tax) can register to receive some portion of the Rakuten Super Points on offer.

Rakuten Books will continue efforts to provide ever more convenient services to Rakuten Members.

■ URL: http://books.rakuten.co.jp/?scid=we_pre_20130128

■ Service Area:
Kanto region (Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma)
Koshinetsu region (Niigata, Nagano, Yamanashi)
Hokuriku region (Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui)
Tokai region (Aichi, Gifu, Shizuoka, Mie)
Kansai region (Osaka, Hyogo, Kyoto, Shiga, Nara, Wakayama)
Note: Service not available in Hokkaido, Tohoku, Chugoku, Shikoku, Kyushu, or Okinawa.

■ Number of Eligible Products: Approximately 700,000

■ Eligible Customers: Rakuten Members

■ Availability: Year-round (including weekends and national holidays)

■ Cost: Free

■ Campaign Period: 10:00 A.M. February 1, 2013 (Friday) to 9:59 A.M. March 1, 2013 (Friday)

■ Eligible Customers:
Rakuten Members who have fulfilled the following criteria during the campaign period.
- Completed entry on the official campaign webpage.
- Placed an order of “Asu Raku” eligible products from Rakuten Books totaling over 1,500 yen (including tax).

*Only one entry per customer will be allowed, even if multiple purchases are made.
*It does not matter if the purchase or entry process is completed first.

■ Prize: 500,000 Rakuten Super Points will be divided among the eligible customers.