2026 New Grad Welcome Ceremony: Polishing Field Skills for AI Era

On April 1, 2026, Rakuten Group held its Welcome Ceremony for new graduates. As a key capability for the AI era, Mickey emphasized the keyword of "genba-ryoku" (field expertise) to the new grads. He spoke about the importance of taking responsibility for thinking through what is happening at the front line, what can be done now, and steadily building trust. Follow the excited and nervous new grads on their first day, and hear about their future ambitions, along with warm welcome messages from a range of Rakutenians.