Rakuten, Inc. is a Japanese e-commerce, internet services, and financial services company founded in 1997 by Hiroshi Mikitani. It is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, and employs over 15,000 people. Rakuten offers a variety of services and products, including e-commerce, travel, banking, securities, credit card, e-money, marketing, professional sports, and online media.
Date of Foundation | 1997 |
Industry | E-commerce, Internet services, Financial services |
Country | Japan |
Founder | Hiroshi Mikitani |
Product/Business | E-commerce, Travel, Banking, Securities, Credit card, E-money, Marketing, Professional sports, Online media |
Number of Employees | 15,000+ |
Location of Headquarters | Tokyo, Japan |
Company Website | https://global.rakuten.com/corp/ |
Rakuten is one of the largest e-commerce companies in the world, with over one billion users worldwide. The company offers a wide range of services and products, including e-commerce, travel, banking, securities, credit card, e-money, marketing, professional sports, and online media. Rakuten operates a number of e-commerce sites, including Rakuten Ichiba, the largest online marketplace in Japan, and Rakuten Travel, the largest online travel booking site in Japan. Rakuten also operates a number of financial services, including Rakuten Bank, Rakuten Securities, and Rakuten Card.
Rakuten has also expanded its business into other areas, such as professional sports, with the acquisition of the Vissel Kobe soccer team in 2019, and online media, with the acquisition of Viki in 2013. Rakuten also operates a number of other services, such as Rakuten Global Market, an international e-commerce platform, and Rakuten Mobile, a mobile phone operator in Japan.
Rakuten was founded in 1997 by Hiroshi Mikitani in Tokyo, Japan. In its early days, the company focused on providing online shopping services, but it quickly expanded its business into other areas, such as banking, securities, and travel. In 2000, Rakuten launched its online marketplace, Rakuten Ichiba, which quickly became the largest online marketplace in Japan.
In 2005, Rakuten acquired Buy.com, an American e-commerce company, and in 2010, it acquired PriceMinister, a French e-commerce company. In 2013, Rakuten acquired Viki, an online streaming service, and in 2015, it acquired Kobo, a Canadian e-reader company. In 2017, Rakuten acquired OverDrive, a digital library service, and in 2019, it acquired the Vissel Kobe soccer team.
Rakuten is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment, and it has implemented a number of initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Rakuten offers a variety of benefits to its employees, including flexible working hours, a generous maternity leave policy, and a comprehensive health insurance package. Rakuten also offers a variety of learning and development opportunities, such as language classes, leadership training, and technical training.
Rakuten is committed to promoting environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) initiatives. The company has implemented a number of initiatives to reduce its environmental impact, such as reducing its carbon emissions and increasing its use of renewable energy. Rakuten also supports a number of social initiatives, such as providing educational opportunities to underprivileged children and supporting local communities. In addition, Rakuten has implemented a number of corporate governance initiatives, such as promoting transparency and accountability and increasing shareholder engagement.
Rakuten offers a variety of services and products, including:
Rakuten uses a variety of technologies to power its services and products. The company utilizes a variety of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies to improve the user experience and optimize its services. Rakuten also uses a number of cloud computing technologies, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure, to provide its services. In addition, Rakuten utilizes a number of data analytics technologies, such as Hadoop and Apache Spark, to better understand user behavior and improve its services.
Rakuten is affiliated with a number of other companies, including:
Rakuten has been criticized for its involvement in the controversial practice of price fixing, which is illegal in some countries. In 2016, the company was fined $1.2 million by the Japanese Fair Trade Commission for participating in price fixing.
Rakuten is one of the most successful companies in Japan, and it has been recognized for its innovative business practices and its commitment to corporate social responsibility. In 2017, Rakuten was named one of the world’s most innovative companies by Forbes, and in 2018, it was named one of the world’s most ethical companies by the Ethisphere Institute.