Rakuten Launches Rakuten NFT, a New Marketplace and Sales Platform for NFTs

- Rakuten NFT service website: https://nft.rakuten.co.jp/

Tokyo, February 25, 2022 – Rakuten Group, Inc. today launched the non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace and sales platform Rakuten NFT.

Rakuten NFT is a service that provides a marketplace for users to purchase NFTs, as well as peer-to-peer buying and selling of NFTs, in a range of areas such as sports and entertainment, including music and anime. It also features a unique, one-stop platform which enables IP holders to build their own website for issuing and selling NFTs. Rakuten ID can be used when making purchases, allowing users to earn and spend Rakuten Points. Any NFTs purchased can be added to a collection on the buyer’s own webpage, and can also be put up for sale in the marketplace and sold. A service for peer-to-peer issuing and selling of NFT content is planned for launch in 2023 or later, which will support IP holders in Japan and worldwide to issue NFTs, as well as spur further development of a global market for NFTs. Plans also call for the introduction of a diversity of additional payment methods. 

From 9 p.m. JST tonight, an NFT using Ultraman anime CG assets and an NFT of the horse racing-themed comic Kurogane Hiroshi G1 Gekitoshi (2010 Series), containing illustrations by famed manga artist Hiroshi Kurogane, will go to market. Looking further ahead, there are plans for NFTs featuring rare footage including famous scenes from TV Asahi Corporation shows and NFT trading cards^* of rock idol group Under Beasty from Daiki Sound Co., Ltd. NFT artwork by contemporary artists from the Art Powers Japan Association and NFTs featuring characters from Tiger & Bunny 2, the popular anime from Bandai Namco Pictures Inc. are also planned. Additionally, plans also call for the release of cultural NFTs from Japanese clothing brand Beams Co., Ltd., music-related NFTs from Up-Front Group Co., Ltd., as well as NFTs using visuals from Estab Life, the original anime project from Goro Taniguchi which is partially funded by Rakuten. Taniguchi is well known as the director of Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, a popular anime TV series.

Rakuten NFT is also planning to produce and sell the J.League NFT Collection Players Anthem, the J.League official NFT collection, and to develop the Rakuten NFT Art Gallery, a collection of original NFT artwork selected by Rakuten NFT. To mark its opening, the Rakuten NFT Art Gallery will host a selection of digital artwork including works by Orihara, image creator for singer Ado. Sales on Rakuten NFT Art Gallery are expected to commence May 2022 or later.

Rakuten will continue to provide new and exciting entertainment experiences through Rakuten NFT, delivering greater levels of convenience and satisfaction to the widest possible range of users through its services.

*NFT trading cards are digital trading cards that use blockchain.

Overview of Rakuten NFT
Service launch date: Friday, February 25, 2022 (Sales of NFT content start at 9:00 p.m. JST)
Service website: https://nft.rakuten.co.jp/
Overview
・For customers: A marketplace to purchase NFTs in a variety of categories – such as sports and entertainment – and to buy and sell NFTs with other individual users.
・For IP holders: A unique, one-stop platform for issuing NFTs and building websites for selling NFTs.

Content for sale
Launching at 9:00 p.m. on Friday, February 25, 2022 (JST):
・Ultraman
Sale webpage: https://heros-ultraman.nft.rakuten.co.jp/
・Kurogane Hiroshi G1 Gekitoshi (2010 Series)
Sale webpage: https://nikkansports.nft.rakuten.co.jp/
Upcoming launches:
・NFTs featuring rare footage including famous scenes from TV Asahi shows (TV Asahi Corporation)
・NFT trading cards of rock idol group Under Beasty (Daiki Sound Co., Ltd.)
・NFT artworks by contemporary artists (Art Powers Japan)
・NFTs Featuring characters from the anime Tiger & Bunny 2 (BANDAI NAMCO Pictures Inc.)
・Cultural NFTs (BEAMS Co., Ltd.)
・Music-related NFTs (UP-FRONT GROUP Co., Ltd.)
・NFTs featuring visuals from Estab Life, by Goro Taniguchi (© SSF/ESTAB LIFE COMMITTEE)
・Japan Professional Football League licensed products – J.League NFT Collection Players Anthem, the J.League official NFT collection. (Rakuten NFT)
・Rakuten NFT Art Gallery NFT artworks (Rakuten NFT)

For inquiries about the service, please contact:  rakuten-nft-pr@mail.rakuten.com

Tiger & Bunny 2, ©BNP/T&B2 PARTNERS