Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Rakuten began as an online marketplace at a time when few believed the internet could support a real business. Nearly three decades later, it has grown into one of Japan’s best-known tech companies, spanning e-commerce, fintech, telecom and digital services.
In this episode of “Managing Asia,” founder and CEO Mickey Mikitani looks back on the decisions that shaped Rakuten’s growth — including his early conviction in the internet, his push to make English the company’s common language and his willingness to take on Japan’s entrenched mobile players.
He also shares why Rakuten is now focusing on artificial intelligence, how he approaches long-term investment and what he hopes the company can represent for the future of Japanese entrepreneurship.
Watch Christine Tan’s interview with Mickey Mikitani by clicking the video above.
#CNBC #ManagingAsia #Rakuten
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Rakuten began as an online marketplace at a time when few believed the internet could support a real business. Nearly three decades later, it has grown into one of Japan’s best-known tech companies, spanning e-commerce, fintech, telecom and digital services.
In this episode of “Managing Asia,” founder and CEO Mickey Mikitani looks back on the decisions that shaped Rakuten’s growth — including his early conviction in the internet, his push to make English the company’s common language and his willingness to take on Japan’s entrenched mobile players.
He also shares why Rakuten is now focusing on artificial intelligence, how he approaches long-term investment and what he hopes the company can represent for the future of Japanese entrepreneurship.
Watch Christine Tan’s interview with Mickey Mikitani by clicking the video above.
#CNBC #ManagingAsia #Rakuten
-----
Subscribe: @cnbci
CNBC International Live: @cnbcinternationalive
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/showcase/cnbc-international
TikTok: tiktok.com/@cnbci
Facebook: facebook.com/cnbcinternational
Instagram: instagram.com/cnbcinternational
Threads: threads.net/@cnbcinternational
X: twitter.com/CNBCi
Telegram: https://t.me/cnbci
WhatsApp: bit.ly/CNBCiWhatsApp
