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Rakuten Innovation

The latest insights and news about Rakuten innovation and entrepreneurship.

Mickey Mikitani: The age of agentic AI has arrived

“This year, we’ve renamed our flagship event from Rakuten Optimism to Rakuten AI Optimism, reflecting our belief that AI is fundamentally transforming the world.” Kicking off the sixth iteration of Rakuten’s biggest annual business conference, Rakuten Group Chairman and CEO Mickey Mikitani had a clear message: artificial intelligence is not a trend, but a foundational …

August 7, 2025
Rakuten AI: Our agentic future starts here

At the 2025 Rakuten AI Optimism conference, Rakuten took another bold step into the future with the full-scale launch of Rakuten AI, a new cutting-edge AI agent geared to reshape how users interact with the Rakuten Ecosystem. “We are on a journey of AI innovation,” shared Rakuten Group Chief Data & AI Officer Ting Cai …

August 27, 2025
Rakuten Symphony Global Partner Summit: "Reinventing Telecom Together"

In the first of its kind, Rakuten Symphony held a Global Partner Summit. Rakuten Symphony deploys solutions through diverse partner models, including Network Equipment Providers (NEPs), Systems Integrators (SIs), and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). These partners are critical for its go-to-market strategy, and the summit aimed to nurture and strengthen these relationships with customer keynote speeches, discussions on the future of telecom, and even a fireside chat with Mickey.

January 14, 2026

VIDEO
October 15, 2025

Ehime Hyakkaten Pop-up Store: Rakuten's First OMO Event with Local Government

BLOG
October 15, 2025

Vissel Kobe turns 30: A celebration of legacy, community, and global connections

VIDEO
October 10, 2025

Rakuten's Ad Business Utilizes AI to Identify Future Buyers

VIDEO
October 7, 2025

Rakuten SAIKYO U-NEXT Launch Boosts Rakuten Mobile as "Strongest Choice"

VIDEO
October 2, 2025

First-Ever Rakuten Furusato Nozei Grand Festival Unites 175 Local Governments

VIDEO
October 1, 2025

#Rakuten Kuishimbo Festival 2025 Attracts Foodies through Social Media

VIDEO
September 30, 2025

Rakuten American Express Card Expands Cash Back Benefits Everywhere

BLOG
September 30, 2025

Inside Rakuten AI: Maksim Tkachenko on the path to personalized AI with efficient Japanese LLMs

VIDEO
September 29, 2025

Rakuten Bank Enters New Era With AI x Rakuten Ecosystem

BLOG
September 22, 2025

Space & AI: Rakuten Mobile’s next frontiers

BLOG
September 19, 2025

Transforming cancer care with generative AI

VIDEO
September 18, 2025

Rakuten Role Models in Tech Inspire Future Female Leaders