Rakuten to Host “Rakuten Technology Conference 2025”

- Sessions by leaders and engineers from renowned global tech companies under the theme “AI-nization with U”
- Features interactive Rakuten AI booth and fun activities for families at the Kids Park

Tokyo, October 23, 2025 - Rakuten Group, Inc. will host its annual technology event Rakuten Technology Conference 2025 on November 15 at its global headquarters, Rakuten Crimson House. The event aims to bring together tech leaders, engineers, researchers and tech enthusiasts from around the world to explore the future horizons of technology through a range of talk sessions and panel discussions.

Marking the 17^th edition of the event, this year’s theme is “AI-nization with U” (AI-nization with You). Anyone can register to attend the event for free on the official website^*1.  The majority of the conference sessions will be conducted in English.

This year's theme, "AI-nization with U," combines the phrase "AI-nization," which represents Rakuten’s initiatives to implement AI in every aspect of its business to drive further growth, and its aim to provide technology that delivers personalized experiences to users, such as agentic AI. Under this theme, the event will feature talk sessions on the transformative potential of AI and other cutting-edge technologies, across various fields such as cloud, data, e-commerce, fintech and mobile technology^*2.

This year will feature a number of speaking sessions centered on AI–powered technologies. In addition to a keynote featuring Rakuten Group Chairman and CEO Mickey Mikitani and sessions by tech leaders from across Rakuten’s businesses, notable tech industry guests such as Hamidou Dia, VP of Applied AI Engineering at Google LLC, and Tiju Johnson, Principal Architect at Cisco Systems, Inc., will also take to the stage.

In addition, Rakuten Group Chief AI & Data Officer Ting Cai will share the latest Rakuten AI use cases and present the company’s vision for utilizing agentic AI in the Rakuten Ecosystem. Taku Okoshi, Director, AI Services Supervisory Department at Rakuten, will be joined by Hamidou Dia of Google LLC to discuss the future role of agentic AI in society and their vision on how companies can best leverage generative AI.

Rakuten Technology Conference also offers a range of family-friendly activities, from interactive booths where attendees can experience Rakuten AI to a Kids Park where children can try out the latest tech. Attendees can also enjoy food and refreshments from the company’s cafeteria and join the after-party (free admission).

Wrapping up the event, the Rakuten Technology Excellence Award 2025 award ceremony will recognize individuals and organizations that have contributed to innovation in society through advanced technologies.

The latest information on speakers and the event timetable can be found on the official website.

Under its AI-nization initiative, Rakuten is promoting the use of AI in all aspects of its businesses and user experience to drive further growth. Through Rakuten Technology Conference, Rakuten aims to provide a platform for people to discover new possibilities and insights into the transformative potential of the latest technologies, including AI.

Key Speakers for "Rakuten Technology Conference 2025" (as of October 23, 2025)

Guest Speakers (in alphabetical order)

• Hamidou Dia, VP of Applied AI Engineering, Google LLC
• Tiju Johnson, Principal Architect, Cisco Systems, Inc.
• Shuji Omoto, Executive Officer, Head of Cloud & AI Architect Division, Customer Success Unit, Microsoft Japan Co., Ltd.
• Shinji Taketsume, Senior Vice President/Executive Operating Officer, Cloud Business Unit, Oracle Corporation Japan
• Toshi Yasuda, Director, Head of Japan Specialists, Amazon Web Services Japan G.K.

Rakuten Group

• Mickey Mikitani, Chairman and CEO, Rakuten Group
• Akihito Kurozumi, Group Senior Managing Executive Officer, Group CIO & Group CTO, Rakuten Group
• Ting Cai, Group CAIDO, Group Senior Managing Executive Officer of AI & Data Division, Rakuten Group
• Taku Okoshi, Executive Officer, Director, AI Services Supervisory Department/Office Manager, Global CDO Office, Rakuten Group
• Hironori Yoshida, Executive Officer, Director, Cloud Platform Supervisory Department, Rakuten Group
• Shuhei Yamamoto, General Manager, Cloud Platform Enablement Department, General Manager, Data Platform Department, Rakuten Group
• Nagayasu Kano, Vice General Manager, Cyber Security Defense Department, Rakuten Group

Event Details

• Name: Rakuten Technology Conference 2025
• Date: Saturday, November 15, 2025, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
• Location: Rakuten Crimson House (Tokyo Headquarters) (1-14-1 Tamagawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158- 0094)
  https://global.rakuten.com/corp/about/map/

• Organizer: Rakuten Group, Inc.
• Official Website: https://tech.rakuten.co.jp/
• Register now: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rakuten-technology-conference-2025-tickets-1653615190549

 Notes
*1 To register for the event, please visit the Rakuten Technology Conference 2025 official website.
*2 Information is current as of the time of publishing and is subject to change.
*Speakers and other information above are accurate as of the time of release and are subject to change in the future. All company names, product names, service names, etc. mentioned herein are registered trademarks or trademarks of the respective companies.