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{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Hiroshi Mikitani
| name = Hiroshi Mikitani
| native_name = 三木谷浩史
| native_name = 三木谷 浩史
| image =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1965|3|11}}
| caption = Mikitani in 2020
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|3|11}}
| birth_place = [[Kobe]], [[Hyōgo Prefecture]], Japan
| birth_place = [[Kobe]], [[Hyōgo Prefecture]], Japan
| nationality = Japanese
| nationality = Japanese
| alma_mater = [[Hitotsubashi University]]<br />[[Harvard Business School]]
| alma_mater = [[Harvard Business School]] (MBA)
| occupation = Founder and CEO, [[Rakuten|Rakuten Group, Inc.]]
| occupation = Founder and CEO, [[Rakuten|Rakuten Group, Inc.]]
| known_for = Founding [[Rakuten]]
| known_for = Founding [[Rakuten]]
| children = 2
| children = 2
| years_active = 1988–present
| awards = [[Legion of Honour]]
| website =  
| website =  
}}
}}


'''Hiroshi Mikitani''' (三木谷浩史, ''Mikitani Hiroshi''; born March 11, 1965) is a Japanese billionaire businessman, writer, and entrepreneur who founded [[Rakuten|Rakuten, Inc.]] in 1997 and has served as its chairman and chief executive officer since its inception. Under his leadership, Rakuten grew from an online shopping mall based in Japan into a global internet services conglomerate with operations spanning e-commerce, financial technology, digital content, and mobile telecommunications. Mikitani also serves as president of Crimson Group, chairman of the [[J1 League]] football club [[Vissel Kobe]], and chairman of the [[Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra]].<ref name="hbs">{{cite web |title=Hiroshi Mikitani, MBA 1993 |url=https://www.alumni.hbs.edu/stories/Pages/story-bulletin.aspx?num=12 |publisher=Harvard Business School Alumni |date=January 1, 2012 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> Beyond the corporate sphere, Mikitani has been an outspoken voice on Japanese economic reform, technology policy, and the adoption of English as a business language. He has served on the boards of several international companies, including the American ride-hailing firm [[Lyft]].<ref name="lyft">{{cite news |last= |first= |date=June 23, 2015 |title=Hiroshi Mikitani, Rakuten Founder, Joins Lyft's Board of Directors |url=https://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/06/23/hiroshi-mikitani-rakuten-founder-joins-lyfts-board-of-directors/?_r=0 |work=The New York Times |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> He has been described by ''Wired'' magazine as "Japan's answer to Jeff Bezos."<ref name="wired">{{cite news |date=April 2013 |title=Japan's Answer to Jeff Bezos |url=https://www.wired.com/2013/04/japans-answer-to-jeff-bezos/ |work=Wired |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
'''Hiroshi Mikitani''' (三木谷 浩史, ''Mikitani Hiroshi''; born March 11, 1965) is a Japanese billionaire businessman, writer, and the founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of [[Rakuten|Rakuten Group, Inc.]], one of the largest internet services companies in the world. Born in [[Kobe]], Japan, Mikitani built Rakuten from a small online marketplace launched in 1997 into a sprawling global conglomerate encompassing e-commerce, financial technology, digital content, communications, and professional sports. Beyond his role at Rakuten, Mikitani serves as chairman of the [[J1 League]] football club [[Vissel Kobe]], chairman of the [[Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra]], and president of the Crimson Group investment firm.<ref name="hbs">{{cite web |title=Hiroshi Mikitani, MBA 1993 |url=https://www.alumni.hbs.edu/stories/Pages/story-bulletin.aspx?num=12 |publisher=Harvard Business School Alumni |date=January 1, 2012 |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> He has held board positions at companies including [[Lyft]] and [[AST SpaceMobile]].<ref name="lyft">{{cite news |last=Hardy |first=Quentin |date=June 23, 2015 |title=Hiroshi Mikitani, Rakuten Founder, Joins Lyft's Board of Directors |url=https://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/06/23/hiroshi-mikitani-rakuten-founder-joins-lyfts-board-of-directors/?_r=0 |work=The New York Times |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref><ref name="ast-resign">{{cite news |date=January 2026 |title=Key facts: Hiroshi Mikitani resigns from AST SpaceMobile Board; stock rises 14% |url=https://www.tradingview.com/news/tradingview:c43a00de7a3b9:0-key-facts-hiroshi-mikitani-resigns-from-ast-spacemobile-board-stock-rises-14/ |work=TradingView |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> A prominent voice in Japanese business reform, Mikitani has advocated for the adoption of English as a corporate language, deregulation of the Japanese economy, and, more recently, the development of [[artificial intelligence]] as a national priority.<ref name="ps-ai">{{cite news |last=Mikitani |first=Hiroshi |date=January 2026 |title=Will Japan Be the World's Next AI Leader? |url=https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/will-japan-supportive-regulatory-environment-give-rise-to-ai-leaders-by-hiroshi-mikitani-2026-01 |work=Project Syndicate |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> He has frequently been described by international media as "Japan's answer to [[Jeff Bezos]]."<ref name="wired">{{cite news |date=April 2013 |title=Japan's Answer to Jeff Bezos |url=https://www.wired.com/2013/04/japans-answer-to-jeff-bezos/ |work=Wired |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


== Early Life ==
== Early Life ==


Hiroshi Mikitani was born on March 11, 1965, in [[Kobe]], [[Hyōgo Prefecture]], Japan. His father was an economist, a background that influenced Mikitani's interest in business and commerce from an early age.<ref name="hbs" /> Growing up in Kobe, Mikitani was shaped by the city's cosmopolitan character as one of Japan's major port cities with a long history of international trade and cultural exchange.
Hiroshi Mikitani was born on March 11, 1965, in [[Kobe]], [[Hyōgo Prefecture]], Japan. His upbringing in Kobe, a cosmopolitan port city with a long history of international trade, would later inform both his global business outlook and his deep personal attachment to the city — a connection that became particularly significant following the devastating [[Great Hanshin earthquake]] of 1995.<ref name="hbs" />


The devastating [[Great Hanshin earthquake]] of January 1995, which struck the Kobe area and killed more than 6,000 people, proved to be a transformative event in Mikitani's life. The earthquake caused widespread destruction in his hometown, and the experience of witnessing the aftermath and the slow pace of institutional response reportedly galvanized his desire to create something new and impactful. According to his account at Harvard Business School, the tragedy was a catalyst that pushed him toward entrepreneurship and ultimately led to the founding of Rakuten two years later.<ref name="hbs" />
The 1995 earthquake, which killed over 6,000 people and caused catastrophic destruction across the Kobe region, proved to be a formative event in Mikitani's life. Witnessing the destruction of his hometown and the struggles of small business owners in the aftermath of the disaster motivated him to consider how technology, particularly the emerging internet, could help empower small and medium-sized enterprises. This experience became a catalyst for his decision to leave his career in banking and consulting to pursue entrepreneurship, ultimately leading to the founding of Rakuten just two years later.<ref name="hbs" /><ref name="wired" />


== Education ==
== Education ==


Mikitani attended [[Hitotsubashi University]], one of Japan's most prestigious institutions for the social sciences and commerce, where he studied economics. After completing his undergraduate education, he entered the workforce at the [[Industrial Bank of Japan]] (IBJ), one of the country's leading financial institutions at the time.<ref name="hbs" />
Mikitani attended [[Hitotsubashi University]], one of Japan's most prestigious universities, where he studied commerce. He later pursued graduate studies in the United States, enrolling at [[Harvard Business School]], where he earned his [[Master of Business Administration]] (MBA) degree in 1993.<ref name="hbs" /> His time at Harvard exposed him to American business practices and entrepreneurial culture, experiences that would profoundly shape his approach to building Rakuten as a globally oriented company. The connections he forged during his MBA studies also proved valuable in his later career as he expanded Rakuten's operations beyond Japan and cultivated relationships with Silicon Valley technology firms and investors.<ref name="hbs" />
 
Mikitani subsequently pursued graduate studies in the United States, enrolling at [[Harvard Business School]]. He earned his [[Master of Business Administration]] (MBA) degree from Harvard in 1993.<ref name="hbs" /> His time at Harvard exposed him to American business culture, entrepreneurial thinking, and the emerging potential of the internet as a commercial platform. The experience at Harvard, combined with the networks he built there, played a formative role in shaping his approach to business and his later vision for Rakuten as a globally oriented company.


== Career ==
== Career ==


=== Early Career at the Industrial Bank of Japan ===
=== Early Career in Banking and Consulting ===


After graduating from Hitotsubashi University, Mikitani joined the [[Industrial Bank of Japan]] (IBJ), where he worked in corporate finance and gained experience in Japan's banking sector. He began his professional career in 1988 and spent several years at the bank before departing to attend Harvard Business School.<ref name="hbs" /> Following his MBA, he returned to work before ultimately deciding to leave the traditional corporate path and launch his own venture.
After graduating from Hitotsubashi University, Mikitani began his professional career in 1988 at the [[Industrial Bank of Japan]] (now part of [[Mizuho Financial Group]]), one of Japan's most established financial institutions. His years in banking provided him with a deep understanding of corporate finance and the Japanese business establishment. He subsequently attended Harvard Business School, and after earning his MBA in 1993, he worked in consulting, gaining further exposure to strategic management and international business practices.<ref name="hbs" />


=== Founding of Rakuten ===
=== Founding of Rakuten ===


In 1997, Mikitani founded Rakuten, Inc. as an online shopping mall in Japan. The company's name, meaning "optimism" in Japanese, reflected Mikitani's belief in the potential of e-commerce to transform retail in Japan. At its founding, Rakuten operated as a platform connecting merchants with consumers, differentiating itself from the inventory-based model used by competitors such as [[Amazon.com|Amazon]]. Rather than purchasing and reselling goods directly, Rakuten provided a marketplace where individual merchants could set up virtual storefronts, a model that drew comparisons to a digital shopping arcade.<ref name="wired" />
In 1997, Mikitani founded Rakuten, Inc., initially as an online marketplace called "Rakuten Ichiba" (楽天市場, meaning "optimistic marketplace"). The company was established with just six employees and launched with a modest roster of thirteen merchants.<ref name="wired" /> Unlike [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]], which operated as a direct retailer, Rakuten's model functioned as a platform enabling individual merchants to set up their own online storefronts — a business-to-business-to-consumer (B2B2C) model that gave small and medium-sized businesses access to the burgeoning internet marketplace.<ref name="wired" /><ref name="ft">{{cite news |date=2012 |title=Hiroshi Mikitani profile |url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/724b144e-b538-11e1-ad93-00144feabdc0.html#axzz20GdXrFFa |work=Financial Times |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
 
The marketplace concept drew directly on Mikitani's post-earthquake conviction that the internet could serve as an equalizer for small businesses, giving them reach and visibility they could not otherwise afford. The model proved successful in Japan, where consumers appreciated the diverse range of merchants and personalized shopping experiences that the platform offered. Rakuten Ichiba grew rapidly and became one of Japan's largest e-commerce platforms.
 
Rakuten went public on the [[Jasdaq]] exchange in 2000, at the height of the [[dot-com bubble]]. The company survived the subsequent downturn and continued to expand, diversifying its business beyond its core marketplace.<ref name="ft" />
 
=== Expansion into a Global Conglomerate ===
 
Under Mikitani's leadership, Rakuten evolved from a domestic Japanese e-commerce platform into a diversified global technology conglomerate. The company pursued an aggressive international acquisition strategy through the 2000s and 2010s, purchasing e-commerce and technology companies in markets around the world.
 
In 2012, Rakuten made a notable investment in [[Pinterest]], acquiring a stake in the social media platform as part of Mikitani's broader strategy to position the company as a global player in the internet economy.<ref name="bw-pinterest">{{cite news |date=May 18, 2012 |title=Pinterest Stake Fuels Rakuten's Quest to Be a Global Player |url=http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-05-18/pinterest-stake-fuels-rakutens-quest-to-be-a-global-player |work=Bloomberg Businessweek |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> This investment was part of a pattern of strategic stakes in emerging technology firms that Mikitani believed would complement Rakuten's ecosystem.
 
In June 2015, Mikitani joined the board of directors of [[Lyft]], the American ride-sharing company, reflecting Rakuten's significant financial investment in the firm and Mikitani's personal interest in the sharing economy and technology-driven disruption of traditional industries.<ref name="lyft" />
 
Over time, Rakuten's portfolio grew to encompass e-commerce, digital content and media, financial services (including banking, insurance, and credit card operations), travel services, and telecommunications. The company's model became known as the "Rakuten Ecosystem," in which users could earn and spend loyalty points (Rakuten Points) across a wide array of services, creating a self-reinforcing cycle of engagement across the company's various platforms.


The company went public on the [[Jasdaq]] exchange in 2000, during the height of the dot-com boom. Rakuten's marketplace model proved successful in the Japanese market, and the company rapidly expanded its domestic operations. Over the following years, Rakuten diversified beyond e-commerce into a wide range of internet services, including travel bookings, financial services, credit cards, banking, insurance, and securities trading. This ecosystem approach, which Mikitani termed the "Rakuten Ecosystem," was designed to encourage users to conduct as many of their daily transactions as possible within the Rakuten network, earning and spending loyalty points across services.
=== Englishnization: English as a Corporate Language ===


=== Global Expansion ===
One of Mikitani's most internationally discussed management decisions was his mandate, announced in 2010, that English would become the official language of Rakuten's corporate operations — a policy he termed "Englishnization." The policy required all employees, including those based in Japan with no prior English proficiency, to conduct meetings, write internal communications, and present reports in English.<ref name="wsj-english">{{cite news |date=November 12, 2015 |title=Rakuten Puts English on Growth Push |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/rakuten-puts-english-on-growth-push-1447360200 |work=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


Under Mikitani's leadership, Rakuten embarked on an ambitious program of international expansion through acquisitions. The company acquired e-commerce platforms and technology companies across multiple continents, including Buy.com (later renamed Rakuten.com Shopping) in the United States, PriceMinister in France, and Play.com in the United Kingdom. These acquisitions were part of Mikitani's stated goal to build a global e-commerce empire to rival Amazon.
The policy was met with significant debate both within Rakuten and in Japanese business circles more broadly. Critics questioned whether forcing Japanese employees to operate in a non-native language would reduce productivity and create unnecessary stress. Supporters argued that the move was essential for a company with global ambitions and that it would attract international talent while preparing Japanese employees for an increasingly globalized economy.<ref name="wsj-english" /><ref name="economist">{{cite news |date=June 2011 |title=New Japan v Old Japan |url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/banyan/2011/06/new-japan-v-old-japan |work=The Economist |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


In 2012, Rakuten made a strategic investment in [[Pinterest]], the visual discovery platform, a move that ''Bloomberg Businessweek'' reported was part of the company's broader quest to become a global player in the internet economy.<ref name="pinterest">{{cite news |date=May 18, 2012 |title=Pinterest Stake Fuels Rakuten's Quest to Be a Global Player |url=http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-05-18/pinterest-stake-fuels-rakutens-quest-to-be-a-global-player |work=Bloomberg Businessweek |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> In 2014, Rakuten acquired the messaging application [[Viber Media|Viber]] for approximately $900 million, further extending its global digital footprint.
Mikitani's Englishnization policy drew comparisons to broader debates about Japan's economic insularity and the need for structural reform. ''The Economist'' framed Mikitani's approach as emblematic of a "New Japan" challenging the traditions of "Old Japan."<ref name="economist" /> The policy became the subject of a case study at Harvard Business School and attracted attention from multinational corporations considering similar language mandates.


In June 2015, Mikitani joined the board of directors of [[Lyft]], the American ride-hailing company, following Rakuten's investment in the firm.<ref name="lyft" /> This board position reflected his interest in the sharing economy and technology-driven disruption of traditional industries. In January 2026, Mikitani resigned from the board of [[AST SpaceMobile]], a satellite-based telecommunications company, stating that the decision was not related to any disagreement with the company.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 13, 2026 |title=Key facts: Hiroshi Mikitani resigns from AST SpaceMobile Board; stock rises 14% |url=https://www.tradingview.com/news/tradingview:c43a00de7a3b9:0-key-facts-hiroshi-mikitani-resigns-from-ast-spacemobile-board-stock-rises-14/ |work=TradingView |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
=== Advocacy for Economic Reform and Civic Engagement ===


=== "Englishnization" Policy ===
Mikitani has been an outspoken advocate for economic deregulation and structural reform in Japan. He served on various government advisory panels and was a prominent member of the Japan Association of New Economy (JANE), an industry group representing internet and technology companies that has pushed for regulatory modernization.<ref name="jane-about">{{cite web |title=About JANE |url=http://jane.or.jp/english/about/ |publisher=Japan Association of New Economy |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref><ref name="jane-whitepaper">{{cite web |title=White Paper |url=http://jane.or.jp/english/whitepaper/ |publisher=Japan Association of New Economy |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


One of Mikitani's most prominent and controversial corporate initiatives was the adoption of English as the official language of Rakuten's internal operations. Announced in 2010, the policy, which Mikitani dubbed "Englishnization," required all employees — the vast majority of whom were Japanese — to conduct meetings, write internal documents, and communicate in English. The ''Wall Street Journal'' reported that the policy was tied to Mikitani's growth push and his ambition to position Rakuten as a truly global company.<ref name="wsj-english">{{cite news |title=Rakuten Puts English on Growth Push |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/rakuten-puts-english-on-growth-push-1447360200 |work=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
In the aftermath of the 2011 [[Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster]], Mikitani emerged as a vocal critic of Japan's nuclear energy policy, calling for a phase-out of nuclear power. His antinuclear stance put him at odds with much of the Japanese business establishment, which generally supported the continuation of nuclear energy as essential to the nation's industrial base.<ref name="wsj-nuclear">{{cite news |date=May 30, 2011 |title=It's Not Easy Being Antinuclear |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2011/05/30/its-not-easy-being-antinuclear/ |work=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> Mikitani reportedly withdrew from [[Keidanren]], Japan's most influential business lobby, in part over disagreements regarding energy policy and the pace of economic reform.<ref name="economist" /><ref name="wsj-nuclear" />


The policy attracted significant attention both within Japan and internationally. It was seen by some observers as emblematic of a new generation of Japanese business leaders willing to challenge established corporate norms. ''The Economist'' framed Mikitani's approach as part of a broader tension between "new Japan" and "old Japan," with Mikitani representing a more internationally oriented, reform-minded business philosophy.<ref name="economist">{{cite news |title=New Japan v old Japan |url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/banyan/2011/06/new-japan-v-old-japan |work=The Economist |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> Mikitani wrote a book about the policy, ''Marketplace 3.0'', in which he argued that English-language adoption was essential for Japanese companies seeking to compete on the global stage.
=== Rakuten Mobile and Telecommunications ===


=== Rakuten Mobile and Telecom Disruption ===
One of the most ambitious — and controversial — chapters of Mikitani's career has been Rakuten's entry into the Japanese telecommunications market. Rakuten Mobile launched as the country's fourth mobile network operator, challenging the established oligopoly of [[NTT Docomo]], [[KDDI]], and [[SoftBank Group|SoftBank]]. Mikitani positioned Rakuten Mobile as a disruptor, building a cloud-native, [[Open RAN]]-based network that the company claimed would dramatically reduce infrastructure costs compared to traditional telecommunications architectures.


In one of the most ambitious and costly phases of his career, Mikitani led Rakuten's entry into the mobile telecommunications market. Rakuten Mobile launched as Japan's fourth mobile network operator, directly challenging the entrenched incumbents [[NTT Docomo]], [[KDDI]], and [[SoftBank Group|SoftBank]]. Mikitani championed the use of [[Open RAN]] (Open Radio Access Network) technology, which uses virtualized, software-based network architecture rather than the proprietary hardware systems traditionally supplied by vendors such as [[Ericsson]] and [[Nokia]].
Rakuten Mobile attracted significant international attention for its technological approach, which was seen as a potential model for the future of mobile network deployment globally. The company sought to commercialize its network technology through Rakuten Symphony, a subsidiary that marketed its platform to telecom operators worldwide.<ref name="lr-disruption">{{cite news |date=September 3, 2025 |title=Rakuten Mobile and a tale of failed telecom disruption |url=https://www.lightreading.com/open-ran/rakuten-mobile-and-a-tale-of-failed-telecom-disruption |work=Light Reading |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


The venture was positioned as a disruptive force in Japanese telecommunications, with Mikitani offering significantly lower prices to consumers. However, the buildout of a nationwide mobile network from scratch proved far more expensive and time-consuming than initially projected, and Rakuten Mobile accumulated substantial financial losses over several years. By the third quarter of 2025, Rakuten Mobile had begun to narrow its losses, reporting positive earnings in certain metrics and growing revenue by 12 percent year-over-year, signaling a gradual march toward profitability.<ref name="lr-profits">{{cite news |date=November 13, 2025 |title=Rakuten Mobile narrows loss as it edges toward profits |url=https://www.lightreading.com/5g/rakuten-mobile-narrows-loss-as-it-edges-toward-profits |work=Light Reading |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
However, the telecommunications venture proved far more costly and difficult than initially projected. Rakuten Mobile accumulated significant financial losses as it built out its network and struggled to attract subscribers away from the entrenched incumbents. Industry analysts noted that Mikitani and Rakuten may have overestimated both Japan's readiness for a telecom shake-up and the global market's appetite for another telecom vendor.<ref name="lr-disruption" />


Nevertheless, analysts at ''Light Reading'' characterized the mobile venture as a cautionary tale, suggesting that Rakuten had "misjudged that Japan was primed for a telecom shake-up and that the world was desperate for another telecom vendor."<ref name="lr-failed">{{cite news |date=September 3, 2025 |title=Rakuten Mobile and a tale of failed telecom disruption |url=https://www.lightreading.com/open-ran/rakuten-mobile-and-a-tale-of-failed-telecom-disruption |work=Light Reading |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> The mobile division also attempted to sell its Open RAN platform technology to other operators internationally through a subsidiary called Rakuten Symphony, but this effort faced significant headwinds in a competitive and skeptical market.<ref name="lr-failed" />
By late 2025, Rakuten Mobile had begun showing signs of progress toward financial viability. In its third-quarter 2025 results, the mobile division reported revenue growth of 12% and recorded positive earnings for the first time in a key metric, marking an important milestone in its long march toward profitability.<ref name="lr-profits">{{cite news |date=November 13, 2025 |title=Rakuten Mobile narrows loss as it edges toward profits |url=https://www.lightreading.com/5g/rakuten-mobile-narrows-loss-as-it-edges-toward-profits |work=Light Reading |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


=== Partnerships and Recent Business Activities ===
=== Artificial Intelligence Advocacy ===


In February 2026, Rakuten Group announced a partnership with [[Google]] to launch a new shopping service in Japan integrated with [[YouTube]], allowing viewers to purchase products directly through the video platform.<ref>{{cite news |date=February 20, 2026 |title=Google, Rakuten to provide new shopping service in Japan on YouTube |url=https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260220/p2g/00m/0bu/024000c |work=Mainichi Shimbun |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> This partnership represented a continuation of Mikitani's strategy to expand Rakuten's e-commerce presence through alliances with major global technology firms.
In the mid-2020s, Mikitani became an active commentator on [[artificial intelligence]] policy, writing and speaking publicly about Japan's potential to become a leader in AI development. In a January 2026 essay for ''[[Project Syndicate]]'', Mikitani argued that Japan's combination of public acceptance of technology and policymakers' "innovation-first" approach to regulation positioned the country favorably in the global AI race.<ref name="ps-ai" /> This view was further elaborated in an essay published by ''[[Arab News]]'', in which Mikitani discussed the ways Japan's AI-friendly regulatory approach was beginning to produce results.<ref name="arabnews-ai">{{cite news |date=January 2026 |title=Japan's AI-friendly approach is bearing fruit |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/2628481 |work=Arab News |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


In December 2025, Mikitani met with President of Kazakhstan [[Kassym-Jomart Tokayev]] during the latter's official visit to Japan, reflecting Rakuten's engagement with international government leaders and the company's interest in expanding its global footprint.<ref>{{cite news |date=December 18, 2025 |title=Kassym-Jomart Tokayev meets with Rakuten Group CEO Hiroshi Mikitani |url=https://qazinform.com/news/kassym-jomart-tokayev-meets-with-rakuten-group-ceo-hiroshi-mikitani-35c9f9 |work=Qazinform |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
=== Recent Partnerships and Diplomatic Engagement ===


=== Advocacy for AI and Technology Policy ===
In February 2026, Rakuten announced a partnership with [[Google]] to launch a new shopping service in Japan integrated with [[YouTube]], allowing users to purchase products from Rakuten's marketplace while watching YouTube content.<ref name="mainichi-google">{{cite news |date=February 20, 2026 |title=Google, Rakuten to provide new shopping service in Japan on YouTube |url=https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260220/p2g/00m/0bu/024000c |work=Mainichi Shimbun |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


Mikitani has positioned himself as a public advocate for [[artificial intelligence]] development in Japan. In a January 2026 commentary for ''Project Syndicate'', he argued that Japan's regulatory environment, characterized by what he called an "innovation-first" approach, combined with public acceptance of the technology, positioned the country to become a global leader in AI.<ref name="ps-ai">{{cite news |last=Mikitani |first=Hiroshi |date=January 2026 |title=Will Japan Be the World's Next AI Leader? |url=https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/will-japan-supportive-regulatory-environment-give-rise-to-ai-leaders-by-hiroshi-mikitani-2026-01 |work=Project Syndicate |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> He elaborated on this thesis in an ''Arab News'' piece, countering prevailing pessimism about AI's impact and suggesting that Japan's cultural and policy framework was conducive to productive AI adoption.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 2026 |title=Japan's AI-friendly approach is bearing fruit |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/2628481 |work=Arab News |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
Mikitani has also engaged in diplomatic activities as a representative of Japanese business interests. In December 2025, during an official visit to Japan by [[Kassym-Jomart Tokayev|President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan]], Mikitani met with the Kazakh leader to discuss potential cooperation and business opportunities.<ref name="qazinform">{{cite news |date=December 18, 2025 |title=Kassym-Jomart Tokayev meets with Rakuten Group CEO Hiroshi Mikitani |url=https://qazinform.com/news/kassym-jomart-tokayev-meets-with-rakuten-group-ceo-hiroshi-mikitani-35c9f9 |work=Qazinform |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


=== Sports and Cultural Investments ===
In January 2026, Mikitani resigned from the board of directors of [[AST SpaceMobile]], a satellite communications company. The company stated that his departure was unrelated to any disagreement with the firm's operations or practices.<ref name="ast-resign" />


==== Vissel Kobe ====
== Sports and Cultural Involvement ==


In December 2014, Rakuten acquired the Japanese football club [[Vissel Kobe]], based in Mikitani's hometown of Kobe. ''TechCrunch'' reported that the acquisition mirrored a similar move by Chinese e-commerce giant [[Alibaba Group|Alibaba]], whose founder [[Jack Ma]] had recently purchased a stake in [[Guangzhou Evergrande]].<ref name="vissel">{{cite news |date=December 7, 2014 |title=Rakuten Buys Japanese Soccer Team Vissel Kobe, Mirroring Recent Alibaba Move |url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/12/07/rakuten-buys-japanese-soccer-team-vissel-kobe-mirroring-recent-alibaba-move/ |work=TechCrunch |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> Under Mikitani's chairmanship, Vissel Kobe signed several high-profile international players and pursued an aggressive strategy to raise the club's competitive standing. Rakuten also became a global sponsor of [[FC Barcelona]], further intertwining Mikitani's business interests with international football.
=== Vissel Kobe ===


In July 2025, Mikitani played a role in resolving logistical issues that had threatened to derail FC Barcelona's pre-season tour to Japan. He described the effort as "the hardest task we have ever taken on."<ref>{{cite news |date=July 27, 2025 |title=Rakuten CEO explains how Barcelona's Japan tour issue was solved - 'Hardest task we have ever taken on' |url=https://barcauniversal.com/rakuten-ceo-explains-how-barcelonas-japan-tour-issue-was-solved-hardest-task-we-have-ever-taken-on/ |work=Barca Universal |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
In December 2014, Rakuten acquired the [[J1 League]] football club [[Vissel Kobe]], and Mikitani assumed the role of chairman. The acquisition reflected Mikitani's personal connection to his hometown of Kobe as well as a strategic interest in the intersection of sports, media, and technology.<ref name="tc-vissel">{{cite news |date=December 7, 2014 |title=Rakuten Buys Japanese Soccer Team Vissel Kobe, Mirroring Recent Alibaba Move |url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/12/07/rakuten-buys-japanese-soccer-team-vissel-kobe-mirroring-recent-alibaba-move/ |work=TechCrunch |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


==== Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra ====
Under Mikitani's ownership, Vissel Kobe signed several high-profile international players and raised the club's global visibility. Rakuten also became a shirt sponsor and commercial partner of [[FC Barcelona]], one of the world's most prominent football clubs, further connecting Mikitani's sports and business interests. In July 2025, Mikitani played a role in resolving logistical issues that threatened to derail FC Barcelona's preseason tour of Japan, describing it as "the hardest task we have ever taken on."<ref name="barca">{{cite news |date=July 27, 2025 |title=Rakuten CEO explains how Barcelona's Japan tour issue was solved — 'Hardest task we have ever taken on' |url=https://barcauniversal.com/rakuten-ceo-explains-how-barcelonas-japan-tour-issue-was-solved-hardest-task-we-have-ever-taken-on/ |work=Barca Universal |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


Mikitani serves as chairman of the [[Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra]], one of Japan's leading orchestral ensembles.<ref>{{cite web |title=About TPO |url=http://tpo.or.jp/en/about/ |publisher=Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> This role reflects his involvement in Japan's cultural landscape beyond the technology and business sectors.
=== Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra ===


=== Economic Reform Advocacy ===
Mikitani serves as chairman of the [[Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra]], one of Japan's oldest and most prominent symphony orchestras.<ref name="tpo">{{cite web |title=About TPO |url=http://tpo.or.jp/en/about/ |publisher=Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> His involvement with the orchestra reflects a broader engagement with Japanese cultural institutions.


Mikitani has been a vocal advocate for structural reforms in the Japanese economy. He has publicly argued for deregulation, increased competition, and greater openness to international business practices. In 2011, he drew attention for his stance against nuclear energy in Japan, advocating for alternatives following the [[Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster]]. The ''Wall Street Journal'' reported on the difficulties and backlash he faced in taking an antinuclear position within Japan's business establishment.<ref>{{cite news |date=May 30, 2011 |title=It's Not Easy Being Antinuclear |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2011/05/30/its-not-easy-being-antinuclear/ |work=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
=== Boston Red Sox Connection ===


Mikitani also served as a representative director of the Japan Association of New Economy (JANE), an industry group that advocates for internet-related businesses and digital economic policy in Japan.<ref>{{cite web |title=About JANE |url=http://jane.or.jp/english/about/ |publisher=Japan Association of New Economy |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
Mikitani's business and sports interests extended to [[Major League Baseball]] as well. Following the [[Boston Red Sox]]' 2013 [[World Series]] championship, media coverage noted a connection between Mikitani and the Red Sox organization, with ''The Boston Globe'' reporting on the shared championship culture between the Red Sox and Rakuten's baseball-related interests in Japan.<ref name="boston-redsox">{{cite news |date=December 9, 2013 |title=In Japan, Red Sox have a championship soul mate |url=https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-red-sox/2013/12/09/in-japan-red-sox-have-a-championship-soul-mate/amp |work=The Boston Globe |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


== Personal Life ==
== Personal Life ==


Hiroshi Mikitani is married and has two children.<ref name="hbs" /> He resides in Japan and maintains both Japanese and English-language public profiles, consistent with his advocacy for bilingualism in Japanese business culture.
Hiroshi Mikitani is married and has two children.<ref name="hbs" /> He maintains a relatively private personal life compared to the public profile of his business activities.
 
Mikitani's connection to his hometown of Kobe has remained a defining personal and professional theme throughout his career. The 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake, which devastated the city, was by his own account the experience that catalyzed his decision to become an entrepreneur. His acquisition of the Vissel Kobe football club and his various philanthropic efforts in the region reflect this ongoing connection.


The ''Financial Times'' profiled Mikitani in 2012, examining his personal drive and the philosophy underpinning his approach to business and corporate culture.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hiroshi Mikitani profile |url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/724b144e-b538-11e1-ad93-00144feabdc0.html#axzz20GdXrFFa |work=Financial Times |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
Mikitani has been described by Reuters as among those Japanese business leaders who have taken unconventional public stances on national policy issues, particularly regarding nuclear energy following the 2011 Fukushima disaster.<ref name="reuters">{{cite news |date=July 8, 2011 |title=Mikitani remarks on Japan policy |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/08/idUKL3E7I80VP20110708 |work=Reuters |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref> His willingness to challenge the Japanese establishment on issues such as energy policy, corporate language, and economic reform has set him apart from many of his peers in the Japanese business world.<ref name="economist" />


== Recognition ==
== Recognition ==


In 2014, Mikitani was awarded the [[Legion of Honour]] by the French government, one of the highest decorations in France. The honor recognized his contributions to Franco-Japanese business relations, including Rakuten's acquisition of the French e-commerce platform PriceMinister and the company's broader investment in France. ''The Japan Times'' reported on the award ceremony.<ref>{{cite news |date=February 18, 2014 |title=Rakuten chief gets Legion of Honor |url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/02/18/business/rakuten-chief-gets-legion-of-honor/#.WWkRotPyvfA |work=The Japan Times |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
Mikitani has received a number of honors and awards recognizing his contributions to business and international relations.
 
Mikitani's profile as a business leader has been the subject of coverage by major international publications. ''Wired'' described him as "Japan's answer to Jeff Bezos," drawing parallels between his ambition to build a comprehensive e-commerce ecosystem and the strategy pursued by Amazon's founder.<ref name="wired" /> ''The Economist'' placed him at the center of a generational debate within Japanese business, representing a new, internationally minded class of entrepreneurs challenging the country's traditionally conservative corporate culture.<ref name="economist" />


The ''Boston Globe'' noted the connection between Mikitani's Rakuten and the [[Boston Red Sox]] following the 2013 World Series, highlighting shared championship celebrations that bridged Japanese and American sports culture.<ref>{{cite news |date=December 9, 2013 |title=In Japan, Red Sox have a championship soul mate |url=https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-red-sox/2013/12/09/in-japan-red-sox-have-a-championship-soul-mate/amp |work=The Boston Globe |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>
In February 2014, the French government awarded Mikitani the [[Legion of Honour]] (Légion d'honneur), France's highest decoration, in recognition of his contributions to Franco-Japanese business relations and Rakuten's investments in French technology companies.<ref name="jt-legion">{{cite news |date=February 18, 2014 |title=Rakuten chief gets Legion of Honor |url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/02/18/business/rakuten-chief-gets-legion-of-honor/#.WWkRotPyvfA |work=The Japan Times |access-date=2026-02-24}}</ref>


His high-level meetings with foreign heads of state, such as his December 2025 meeting with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, further reflect his standing as one of Japan's most prominent business figures on the international stage.
His profile as a reformist business leader has earned him extensive coverage in international media, including feature profiles in the ''[[Financial Times]]'',<ref name="ft" /> ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]'',<ref name="wired" /> ''[[Bloomberg Businessweek]]'',<ref name="bw-pinterest" /> and ''[[The Economist]]''.<ref name="economist" /> ''Wired'' notably characterized him as "Japan's answer to Jeff Bezos," a comparison that reflected both his e-commerce empire and his willingness to challenge established business norms.<ref name="wired" />


== Legacy ==
== Legacy ==


Hiroshi Mikitani's career has been defined by a series of large-scale bets — on e-commerce, on English as a corporate language, on global expansion through acquisitions, on mobile telecommunications, and on AI. His founding of Rakuten created one of Japan's largest and most diversified internet companies, and the Rakuten Ecosystem model of interconnected services, linked by a shared loyalty points program, influenced how other Japanese and Asian technology companies approached platform strategy.
Hiroshi Mikitani's career has encompassed the founding and growth of one of Asia's largest internet companies, a sustained effort to reshape Japanese corporate culture, and high-profile ventures in telecommunications, sports, and international investment. Rakuten's ecosystem model — integrating e-commerce, fintech, digital content, and mobile telecommunications under a unified loyalty points system — represents a distinctive approach to platform business building that has been studied and emulated by companies in multiple markets.


His "Englishnization" policy at Rakuten, while controversial, sparked a broader national conversation in Japan about language, globalization, and the future of Japanese business in an increasingly interconnected world. The policy drew both admiration and criticism but undeniably raised the profile of the debate about how Japanese companies should adapt to global competition.<ref name="wsj-english" /><ref name="economist" />
His Englishnization policy, whatever its internal reception, helped catalyze a broader conversation in Japan about the role of language in global competitiveness and corporate internationalization.<ref name="wsj-english" /> His public stance against nuclear power after the Fukushima disaster and his departure from Keidanren marked him as a figure willing to break with the consensus-driven traditions of Japanese business leadership.<ref name="wsj-nuclear" /><ref name="economist" />


Rakuten Mobile's entry into Japan's telecommunications market represented one of the most ambitious attempts to disrupt an established industry using new technology. While the financial costs were substantial and the timeline longer than anticipated, the effort introduced Open RAN technology into mainstream telecommunications discussions and put competitive pressure on Japan's incumbent carriers to lower prices, a development that benefited Japanese consumers.<ref name="lr-profits" /><ref name="lr-failed" />
The Rakuten Mobile venture, despite its significant financial costs and ongoing debate about its long-term viability, has contributed to a broader global discussion about the potential of Open RAN technology and cloud-native network architectures to reshape the telecommunications industry.<ref name="lr-disruption" /><ref name="lr-profits" /> Whether the mobile division ultimately achieves sustainable profitability will be a defining question for Mikitani's legacy as a business strategist.


Through his roles at Vissel Kobe, the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, and JANE, Mikitani has operated at the intersection of business, sports, culture, and public policy in Japan. His advocacy for AI development and technology-friendly regulation, articulated in publications such as ''Project Syndicate'', positions him as one of the leading voices in Japan's technology industry as the country navigates the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence.<ref name="ps-ai" />
In the 2020s, Mikitani has positioned himself as an advocate for Japan's potential as an AI leader, arguing that the country's regulatory environment and cultural attitudes toward technology provide a foundation for innovation in the field.<ref name="ps-ai" /><ref name="arabnews-ai" /> His continued active role as CEO of Rakuten, combined with his investments, board memberships, and public commentary, ensure that he remains a central figure in the Japanese and global technology landscape.


== References ==
== References ==
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Latest revision as of 05:50, 24 February 2026



Hiroshi Mikitani
Born11 3, 1965
BirthplaceKobe, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan
NationalityJapanese
OccupationFounder and CEO, Rakuten Group, Inc.
Known forFounding Rakuten
Children2
AwardsLegion of Honour

Hiroshi Mikitani (三木谷 浩史, Mikitani Hiroshi; born March 11, 1965) is a Japanese billionaire businessman, writer, and the founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Rakuten Group, Inc., one of the largest internet services companies in the world. Born in Kobe, Japan, Mikitani built Rakuten from a small online marketplace launched in 1997 into a sprawling global conglomerate encompassing e-commerce, financial technology, digital content, communications, and professional sports. Beyond his role at Rakuten, Mikitani serves as chairman of the J1 League football club Vissel Kobe, chairman of the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, and president of the Crimson Group investment firm.[1] He has held board positions at companies including Lyft and AST SpaceMobile.[2][3] A prominent voice in Japanese business reform, Mikitani has advocated for the adoption of English as a corporate language, deregulation of the Japanese economy, and, more recently, the development of artificial intelligence as a national priority.[4] He has frequently been described by international media as "Japan's answer to Jeff Bezos."[5]

Early Life

Hiroshi Mikitani was born on March 11, 1965, in Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. His upbringing in Kobe, a cosmopolitan port city with a long history of international trade, would later inform both his global business outlook and his deep personal attachment to the city — a connection that became particularly significant following the devastating Great Hanshin earthquake of 1995.[1]

The 1995 earthquake, which killed over 6,000 people and caused catastrophic destruction across the Kobe region, proved to be a formative event in Mikitani's life. Witnessing the destruction of his hometown and the struggles of small business owners in the aftermath of the disaster motivated him to consider how technology, particularly the emerging internet, could help empower small and medium-sized enterprises. This experience became a catalyst for his decision to leave his career in banking and consulting to pursue entrepreneurship, ultimately leading to the founding of Rakuten just two years later.[1][5]

Education

Mikitani attended Hitotsubashi University, one of Japan's most prestigious universities, where he studied commerce. He later pursued graduate studies in the United States, enrolling at Harvard Business School, where he earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in 1993.[1] His time at Harvard exposed him to American business practices and entrepreneurial culture, experiences that would profoundly shape his approach to building Rakuten as a globally oriented company. The connections he forged during his MBA studies also proved valuable in his later career as he expanded Rakuten's operations beyond Japan and cultivated relationships with Silicon Valley technology firms and investors.[1]

Career

Early Career in Banking and Consulting

After graduating from Hitotsubashi University, Mikitani began his professional career in 1988 at the Industrial Bank of Japan (now part of Mizuho Financial Group), one of Japan's most established financial institutions. His years in banking provided him with a deep understanding of corporate finance and the Japanese business establishment. He subsequently attended Harvard Business School, and after earning his MBA in 1993, he worked in consulting, gaining further exposure to strategic management and international business practices.[1]

Founding of Rakuten

In 1997, Mikitani founded Rakuten, Inc., initially as an online marketplace called "Rakuten Ichiba" (楽天市場, meaning "optimistic marketplace"). The company was established with just six employees and launched with a modest roster of thirteen merchants.[5] Unlike Amazon, which operated as a direct retailer, Rakuten's model functioned as a platform enabling individual merchants to set up their own online storefronts — a business-to-business-to-consumer (B2B2C) model that gave small and medium-sized businesses access to the burgeoning internet marketplace.[5][6]

The marketplace concept drew directly on Mikitani's post-earthquake conviction that the internet could serve as an equalizer for small businesses, giving them reach and visibility they could not otherwise afford. The model proved successful in Japan, where consumers appreciated the diverse range of merchants and personalized shopping experiences that the platform offered. Rakuten Ichiba grew rapidly and became one of Japan's largest e-commerce platforms.

Rakuten went public on the Jasdaq exchange in 2000, at the height of the dot-com bubble. The company survived the subsequent downturn and continued to expand, diversifying its business beyond its core marketplace.[6]

Expansion into a Global Conglomerate

Under Mikitani's leadership, Rakuten evolved from a domestic Japanese e-commerce platform into a diversified global technology conglomerate. The company pursued an aggressive international acquisition strategy through the 2000s and 2010s, purchasing e-commerce and technology companies in markets around the world.

In 2012, Rakuten made a notable investment in Pinterest, acquiring a stake in the social media platform as part of Mikitani's broader strategy to position the company as a global player in the internet economy.[7] This investment was part of a pattern of strategic stakes in emerging technology firms that Mikitani believed would complement Rakuten's ecosystem.

In June 2015, Mikitani joined the board of directors of Lyft, the American ride-sharing company, reflecting Rakuten's significant financial investment in the firm and Mikitani's personal interest in the sharing economy and technology-driven disruption of traditional industries.[2]

Over time, Rakuten's portfolio grew to encompass e-commerce, digital content and media, financial services (including banking, insurance, and credit card operations), travel services, and telecommunications. The company's model became known as the "Rakuten Ecosystem," in which users could earn and spend loyalty points (Rakuten Points) across a wide array of services, creating a self-reinforcing cycle of engagement across the company's various platforms.

Englishnization: English as a Corporate Language

One of Mikitani's most internationally discussed management decisions was his mandate, announced in 2010, that English would become the official language of Rakuten's corporate operations — a policy he termed "Englishnization." The policy required all employees, including those based in Japan with no prior English proficiency, to conduct meetings, write internal communications, and present reports in English.[8]

The policy was met with significant debate both within Rakuten and in Japanese business circles more broadly. Critics questioned whether forcing Japanese employees to operate in a non-native language would reduce productivity and create unnecessary stress. Supporters argued that the move was essential for a company with global ambitions and that it would attract international talent while preparing Japanese employees for an increasingly globalized economy.[8][9]

Mikitani's Englishnization policy drew comparisons to broader debates about Japan's economic insularity and the need for structural reform. The Economist framed Mikitani's approach as emblematic of a "New Japan" challenging the traditions of "Old Japan."[9] The policy became the subject of a case study at Harvard Business School and attracted attention from multinational corporations considering similar language mandates.

Advocacy for Economic Reform and Civic Engagement

Mikitani has been an outspoken advocate for economic deregulation and structural reform in Japan. He served on various government advisory panels and was a prominent member of the Japan Association of New Economy (JANE), an industry group representing internet and technology companies that has pushed for regulatory modernization.[10][11]

In the aftermath of the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, Mikitani emerged as a vocal critic of Japan's nuclear energy policy, calling for a phase-out of nuclear power. His antinuclear stance put him at odds with much of the Japanese business establishment, which generally supported the continuation of nuclear energy as essential to the nation's industrial base.[12] Mikitani reportedly withdrew from Keidanren, Japan's most influential business lobby, in part over disagreements regarding energy policy and the pace of economic reform.[9][12]

Rakuten Mobile and Telecommunications

One of the most ambitious — and controversial — chapters of Mikitani's career has been Rakuten's entry into the Japanese telecommunications market. Rakuten Mobile launched as the country's fourth mobile network operator, challenging the established oligopoly of NTT Docomo, KDDI, and SoftBank. Mikitani positioned Rakuten Mobile as a disruptor, building a cloud-native, Open RAN-based network that the company claimed would dramatically reduce infrastructure costs compared to traditional telecommunications architectures.

Rakuten Mobile attracted significant international attention for its technological approach, which was seen as a potential model for the future of mobile network deployment globally. The company sought to commercialize its network technology through Rakuten Symphony, a subsidiary that marketed its platform to telecom operators worldwide.[13]

However, the telecommunications venture proved far more costly and difficult than initially projected. Rakuten Mobile accumulated significant financial losses as it built out its network and struggled to attract subscribers away from the entrenched incumbents. Industry analysts noted that Mikitani and Rakuten may have overestimated both Japan's readiness for a telecom shake-up and the global market's appetite for another telecom vendor.[13]

By late 2025, Rakuten Mobile had begun showing signs of progress toward financial viability. In its third-quarter 2025 results, the mobile division reported revenue growth of 12% and recorded positive earnings for the first time in a key metric, marking an important milestone in its long march toward profitability.[14]

Artificial Intelligence Advocacy

In the mid-2020s, Mikitani became an active commentator on artificial intelligence policy, writing and speaking publicly about Japan's potential to become a leader in AI development. In a January 2026 essay for Project Syndicate, Mikitani argued that Japan's combination of public acceptance of technology and policymakers' "innovation-first" approach to regulation positioned the country favorably in the global AI race.[4] This view was further elaborated in an essay published by Arab News, in which Mikitani discussed the ways Japan's AI-friendly regulatory approach was beginning to produce results.[15]

Recent Partnerships and Diplomatic Engagement

In February 2026, Rakuten announced a partnership with Google to launch a new shopping service in Japan integrated with YouTube, allowing users to purchase products from Rakuten's marketplace while watching YouTube content.[16]

Mikitani has also engaged in diplomatic activities as a representative of Japanese business interests. In December 2025, during an official visit to Japan by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, Mikitani met with the Kazakh leader to discuss potential cooperation and business opportunities.[17]

In January 2026, Mikitani resigned from the board of directors of AST SpaceMobile, a satellite communications company. The company stated that his departure was unrelated to any disagreement with the firm's operations or practices.[3]

Sports and Cultural Involvement

Vissel Kobe

In December 2014, Rakuten acquired the J1 League football club Vissel Kobe, and Mikitani assumed the role of chairman. The acquisition reflected Mikitani's personal connection to his hometown of Kobe as well as a strategic interest in the intersection of sports, media, and technology.[18]

Under Mikitani's ownership, Vissel Kobe signed several high-profile international players and raised the club's global visibility. Rakuten also became a shirt sponsor and commercial partner of FC Barcelona, one of the world's most prominent football clubs, further connecting Mikitani's sports and business interests. In July 2025, Mikitani played a role in resolving logistical issues that threatened to derail FC Barcelona's preseason tour of Japan, describing it as "the hardest task we have ever taken on."[19]

Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra

Mikitani serves as chairman of the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, one of Japan's oldest and most prominent symphony orchestras.[20] His involvement with the orchestra reflects a broader engagement with Japanese cultural institutions.

Boston Red Sox Connection

Mikitani's business and sports interests extended to Major League Baseball as well. Following the Boston Red Sox' 2013 World Series championship, media coverage noted a connection between Mikitani and the Red Sox organization, with The Boston Globe reporting on the shared championship culture between the Red Sox and Rakuten's baseball-related interests in Japan.[21]

Personal Life

Hiroshi Mikitani is married and has two children.[1] He maintains a relatively private personal life compared to the public profile of his business activities.

Mikitani has been described by Reuters as among those Japanese business leaders who have taken unconventional public stances on national policy issues, particularly regarding nuclear energy following the 2011 Fukushima disaster.[22] His willingness to challenge the Japanese establishment on issues such as energy policy, corporate language, and economic reform has set him apart from many of his peers in the Japanese business world.[9]

Recognition

Mikitani has received a number of honors and awards recognizing his contributions to business and international relations.

In February 2014, the French government awarded Mikitani the Legion of Honour (Légion d'honneur), France's highest decoration, in recognition of his contributions to Franco-Japanese business relations and Rakuten's investments in French technology companies.[23]

His profile as a reformist business leader has earned him extensive coverage in international media, including feature profiles in the Financial Times,[6] Wired,[5] Bloomberg Businessweek,[7] and The Economist.[9] Wired notably characterized him as "Japan's answer to Jeff Bezos," a comparison that reflected both his e-commerce empire and his willingness to challenge established business norms.[5]

Legacy

Hiroshi Mikitani's career has encompassed the founding and growth of one of Asia's largest internet companies, a sustained effort to reshape Japanese corporate culture, and high-profile ventures in telecommunications, sports, and international investment. Rakuten's ecosystem model — integrating e-commerce, fintech, digital content, and mobile telecommunications under a unified loyalty points system — represents a distinctive approach to platform business building that has been studied and emulated by companies in multiple markets.

His Englishnization policy, whatever its internal reception, helped catalyze a broader conversation in Japan about the role of language in global competitiveness and corporate internationalization.[8] His public stance against nuclear power after the Fukushima disaster and his departure from Keidanren marked him as a figure willing to break with the consensus-driven traditions of Japanese business leadership.[12][9]

The Rakuten Mobile venture, despite its significant financial costs and ongoing debate about its long-term viability, has contributed to a broader global discussion about the potential of Open RAN technology and cloud-native network architectures to reshape the telecommunications industry.[13][14] Whether the mobile division ultimately achieves sustainable profitability will be a defining question for Mikitani's legacy as a business strategist.

In the 2020s, Mikitani has positioned himself as an advocate for Japan's potential as an AI leader, arguing that the country's regulatory environment and cultural attitudes toward technology provide a foundation for innovation in the field.[4][15] His continued active role as CEO of Rakuten, combined with his investments, board memberships, and public commentary, ensure that he remains a central figure in the Japanese and global technology landscape.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "Hiroshi Mikitani, MBA 1993".Harvard Business School Alumni.January 1, 2012.https://www.alumni.hbs.edu/stories/Pages/story-bulletin.aspx?num=12.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 HardyQuentinQuentin"Hiroshi Mikitani, Rakuten Founder, Joins Lyft's Board of Directors".The New York Times.June 23, 2015.https://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/06/23/hiroshi-mikitani-rakuten-founder-joins-lyfts-board-of-directors/?_r=0.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Key facts: Hiroshi Mikitani resigns from AST SpaceMobile Board; stock rises 14%".TradingView.January 2026.https://www.tradingview.com/news/tradingview:c43a00de7a3b9:0-key-facts-hiroshi-mikitani-resigns-from-ast-spacemobile-board-stock-rises-14/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 MikitaniHiroshiHiroshi"Will Japan Be the World's Next AI Leader?".Project Syndicate.January 2026.https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/will-japan-supportive-regulatory-environment-give-rise-to-ai-leaders-by-hiroshi-mikitani-2026-01.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 "Japan's Answer to Jeff Bezos".Wired.April 2013.https://www.wired.com/2013/04/japans-answer-to-jeff-bezos/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Hiroshi Mikitani profile".Financial Times.2012.http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/724b144e-b538-11e1-ad93-00144feabdc0.html#axzz20GdXrFFa.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Pinterest Stake Fuels Rakuten's Quest to Be a Global Player".Bloomberg Businessweek.May 18, 2012.http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-05-18/pinterest-stake-fuels-rakutens-quest-to-be-a-global-player.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Rakuten Puts English on Growth Push".The Wall Street Journal.November 12, 2015.https://www.wsj.com/articles/rakuten-puts-english-on-growth-push-1447360200.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 "New Japan v Old Japan".The Economist.June 2011.https://www.economist.com/blogs/banyan/2011/06/new-japan-v-old-japan.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  10. ↑ "About JANE".Japan Association of New Economy.http://jane.or.jp/english/about/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  11. ↑ "White Paper".Japan Association of New Economy.http://jane.or.jp/english/whitepaper/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 "It's Not Easy Being Antinuclear".The Wall Street Journal.May 30, 2011.https://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2011/05/30/its-not-easy-being-antinuclear/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 "Rakuten Mobile and a tale of failed telecom disruption".Light Reading.September 3, 2025.https://www.lightreading.com/open-ran/rakuten-mobile-and-a-tale-of-failed-telecom-disruption.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Rakuten Mobile narrows loss as it edges toward profits".Light Reading.November 13, 2025.https://www.lightreading.com/5g/rakuten-mobile-narrows-loss-as-it-edges-toward-profits.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Japan's AI-friendly approach is bearing fruit".Arab News.January 2026.https://www.arabnews.com/node/2628481.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  16. ↑ "Google, Rakuten to provide new shopping service in Japan on YouTube".Mainichi Shimbun.February 20, 2026.https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260220/p2g/00m/0bu/024000c.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  17. ↑ "Kassym-Jomart Tokayev meets with Rakuten Group CEO Hiroshi Mikitani".Qazinform.December 18, 2025.https://qazinform.com/news/kassym-jomart-tokayev-meets-with-rakuten-group-ceo-hiroshi-mikitani-35c9f9.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  18. ↑ "Rakuten Buys Japanese Soccer Team Vissel Kobe, Mirroring Recent Alibaba Move".TechCrunch.December 7, 2014.https://techcrunch.com/2014/12/07/rakuten-buys-japanese-soccer-team-vissel-kobe-mirroring-recent-alibaba-move/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  19. ↑ "Rakuten CEO explains how Barcelona's Japan tour issue was solved — 'Hardest task we have ever taken on'".Barca Universal.July 27, 2025.https://barcauniversal.com/rakuten-ceo-explains-how-barcelonas-japan-tour-issue-was-solved-hardest-task-we-have-ever-taken-on/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  20. ↑ "About TPO".Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra.http://tpo.or.jp/en/about/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  21. ↑ "In Japan, Red Sox have a championship soul mate".The Boston Globe.December 9, 2013.https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-red-sox/2013/12/09/in-japan-red-sox-have-a-championship-soul-mate/amp.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  22. ↑ "Mikitani remarks on Japan policy".Reuters.July 8, 2011.https://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/08/idUKL3E7I80VP20110708.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  23. ↑ "Rakuten chief gets Legion of Honor".The Japan Times.February 18, 2014.http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/02/18/business/rakuten-chief-gets-legion-of-honor/#.WWkRotPyvfA.Retrieved 2026-02-24.

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