Since its founding in 1997, we believe in the power of innovation and cherish it. We aim to believe in the possibilities of the future and create a better tomorrow.
M.D.M. Corporation (now Rakuten Group, Inc.) established
Establishment
Launched the service of the internet shopping mall 'Rakuten Ichiba'
Rakuten Ichiba opened
Launched the service of 'Rakuten Super Auction,' the predecessor of 'Rakuten Auction' (migrated to the peer-to-peer sales app 'Rakuma' in 2016)
Changed the company name from M.D.M. Corporation to Rakuten, Inc.
Established 'Rakuten University' to provide know-how on online shop management to 'Rakuten Ichiba' store operators
Registered shares with the Japan Securities Dealers Association (now Tokyo Stock Exchange JASDAQ)
Listed on the stock exchange
Started providing the 'Mobile Version Rakuten Ichiba' service available on mobile phones
Fully acquired Infoseek Corporation, which operates the portal site 'Infoseek' with search functions, etc.
Launched the service of the online accommodation booking and comprehensive travel site 'Rakuten Travel'.
Launched the service of the online book sales site 'Rakuten Books'.
Introduced a new billing system based on usage charges to 'Rakuten Ichiba'.
Started the 'Rakuten Points' service, which grants points when shopping or using services within 'Rakuten Ichiba' (later, it became possible to earn and use points across various services within the Rakuten Group).
Made 'Rakuten Points' available as a payment method for shopping within 'Rakuten Ichiba'.
Merged with Infoseek Corporation.
Launched the 'Rakuten Point Club' (now 'Rakuten Point Club'), a benefit service based on the number of 'Rakuten Points' earned.
Made D.L.J. Direct SFG Securities Inc. (now Rakuten Securities Inc.) a subsidiary.
Made Minnan no Shushoku Co., Ltd., which operates the口コミ employment site 'Minna no Shushoku Katsudo Nikki' (fully acquired by Rakuten Inc. in 2009), a wholly owned subsidiary.
Made Aozora Card Inc. (now Rakuten Card Inc.) a wholly owned subsidiary.
Established Rakuten Baseball Organization.
Received approval for the entry of the 'Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles' by the Japan Professional Baseball Organization (NPB).
Made LinkShare Corporation (now RAKUTEN MARKETING LLC) a wholly owned subsidiary and entered the US affiliate market.
Established 'Rakuten Technology Research Institute' in Tokyo to research and develop cutting-edge internet technology.
Established Rakuten ANA Travel Online Inc. (jointly funded with All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd.).
Reorganized the management division into a business unit (38 BU) system, and introduced the 'Growth Management Program (GMP)' to manage profitability and growth by BU.
Made Rakuten Research Inc. (now Rakuten Insight Inc.) a wholly owned subsidiary.
Started relocating the headquarters functions to the 'Rakuten Tower' in Shinagawa Seaside, Tokyo (officially relocated in April 2008).
Made Fusion Communications Inc., which operates the IP phone business, a subsidiary.
Started the service of the internet shopping mall 'Taiwan Rakuten Ichiba' through a joint venture with the major local retailer Uni-President Group in Taiwan.
The business & services provided by the Rakuten Group number about 40. Business units (BU) are classified, reorganized, and the growth & incubation businesses are clarified into 11 highly related groups to improve investment efficiency.
Acquired all shares of O-net Corporation, which operates marriage information services, making it a wholly owned subsidiary.
Converted preferred shares of eBank Corporation (now Rakuten Bank Corporation) into common shares and made it a subsidiary.
Acquired all shares of Showtime Corporation, which operates video content distribution business, through additional share purchase, making it a wholly owned subsidiary.
Entered into a capital alliance agreement with BitWallet Corporation (now Rakuten Edy Corporation), which develops electronic money business.
Made BitWallet Corporation (now Rakuten Edy Corporation) a subsidiary.
Made LinkShare Japan Corporation a subsidiary through a joint venture with Traffic Gate Corporation.
Established the Rakuten Technology Laboratory in New York, USA, for research and development of cutting-edge internet technology.
Fully acquired Buy.com, Inc. (now Rakuten.com), which operates the EC site 'Buy.com' (now 'Rakuten.com') in the United States.
Fully acquired PRICEMINISTER S.A., which operates the EC site 'PriceMinister' in France (as of July 2010: Rakuten France).
Established the San Francisco Agile Development Center in San Francisco, USA.
Made Ikeda Internet Software LTDA., which provides EC services in Brazil (now RAKUTEN BRASIL INTERNET SERVICE LTDA.), a subsidiary.
Made Tradoria GmbH, which operates the EC site 'Tradoria' (now 'Rakuten.de') in Germany (now Rakuten Deutschland GmbH), a subsidiary.
In the 20th year since its founding, we set a vision to embody a future beyond the extension of the past, aiming to become a "Global Innovation Company".
Accelerated efforts to realize the 'One Delivery' comprehensive logistics service concept.
Acquired all shares of Minna no Bitcoin Corporation (now Rakuten Wallet Corporation), which operates virtual currency exchange business, through Rakuten Card, a consolidated subsidiary.
Announced a new global unified brand symbol.
Established the Rakuten People & Culture Laboratory to create innovative insights and solutions related to new relationships between organizations and individuals and future corporate culture.
Started providing the low-voltage electricity supply service 'Rakuten Denki' for individuals and households.
Grand opening of the online supermarket 'Rakuten Seiyu Net Super' operated in collaboration with Seiyu.
Agreed with KDDI Corporation and Okinawa Cellular Telephone Company to mutually utilize each company's assets in payment, logistics, and communication network fields to strengthen service competitiveness and promote convenience.
Contributing to the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) promoted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), launching "EARTH MALL with Rakuten" to propose sustainable consumption
Established "Rakuten Technology Research Institute" in Bangalore, India, creating a 5-country, 6-location system
Surpassed 1 trillion yen in sales revenue
Started mobile carrier business, strengthened finance and commerce businesses to expand group synergy
Announced a fully cashless "Smart Stadium Concept"
Signed a partnership agreement with NBA "Golden State Warriors" player Stephen Curry
Successfully conducted a demonstration experiment on the world's first end-to-end fully virtualized cloud-native network
Partnered with FamilyMart for the "Rakuten Point Card" shared point service
The Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications approved the plan to establish specific base stations for the deployment of 5G mobile communication systems in the 3.7GHz and 28GHz frequency bands
Launched live video streaming service "Rakuten LIVE"
Decided to acquire shares of Gurunavi Inc. and become the top shareholder
Decided to become a "Global Partner" of the Davis Cup
Collaborated with JR East Japan to promote cashless payments
Launched video streaming service "Rakuten Sports" to globally distribute sports content
Held the group's largest event, "Rakuten Optimism 2019"
Agreed to establish a joint venture with The H Collective, Inc., a film production company
Signed a sponsorship agreement with the "TOKYO Fashion Week" organized by the Japan Fashion Week Organization
Partnered with KonMari Media, Inc., produced by Marie Kondo
Rakuten Wallet launched a spot trading service for cryptocurrencies (virtual currencies)
Announced a new concept "Rakuten Fashion" in the fashion domain
Signed a basic agreement with La New International Corporation for the transfer of all shares of the Taiwanese professional baseball team "Lamigo Monkeys" (now "Rakuten Monkeys")
"Rakuten Mobile" has started its service as a mobile carrier business
Joined the international initiative "RE100" aiming to make 100% of the electricity used in business activities renewable energy
Launched IT solution "Rakuten Ready" for building pre-order and payment services
Started 5G service and strengthened O2O with an eye on the new normal era
Invested in AST & Science, LLC to expand mobile broadband network transmission from space and provide mobile phone service areas on Earth
"Rakuten Mobile" announced an unlimited plan "Rakuten UN-LIMIT" for 2,980 yen per month and fully launched its mobile carrier business
Carried out awareness activities as a group to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection
Started providing store management support services for stores using "Shopify" on "Rakuten Ichiba"
Launched "Rakuten Real-Time Takeout," a takeout support service enabling pre-order and payment at restaurants
Established "Rakuten Tokyu Planning Co., Ltd." jointly with Tokyu
Total issued points of "Rakuten Points" exceeded 2 trillion points
"Rakuten Mobile" announced a new rate plan "Rakuten UN-LIMIT V" that allows 5G use at the same monthly fee
Certified as an "Eco First Company" by the Ministry of the Environment
Launched "Rakuten Gas," a city gas resale sales service by "Rakuten Mobile"
Acquired Seiyu shares from Walmart in the U.S. through KKR and Rakuten
Established a new company "Rakuten DX Solutions Inc." to promote digital transformation
Selected for the first time as a constituent stock of the "Dow Jones Sustainability World Index"
Selected for the first time in the "Climate Change A List" in a corporate survey on climate change conducted by the international environmental nonprofit organization "CDP"
Rakuten Bank's number of accounts surpassed 10 million for the first time among internet banks
Rakuten Bank Inc. and Rakuten Card Inc. commenced operations of Rakuten International Commercial Bank in Taiwan
Rakuten Mobile announced a new rate plan "Rakuten UN-LIMIT VI"
Japan Post Group and Rakuten Group agreed on capital and business alliance
Changed the company name from Rakuten Inc. to Rakuten Group Inc.
Rakuten Mobile Inc. received certification for a specific base station plan to promote 5G mobile communication systems
Established the Noevir Stadium Kobe as a large-scale vaccination model for COVID-19, a first in Japan involving industry-academia-government collaboration
Made it possible to issue a second Rakuten Card
Started a comprehensive regional implementation of "workplace vaccination" for COVID-19 at "Rakuten Crimson House," targeting employees, their families, local residents, and small to medium-sized enterprises that find it difficult to implement on their own
Initiatives for business alliance in logistics / joint venture with Japan Post to develop a logistics DX platform, establishing JP Rakuten Logistics Inc.
Rakuten Mobile received two awards at the 2021 "Global Mobile (GLOMO) Awards" at the world's largest mobile trade fair "MWC"
Conducted "workplace vaccination" jointly with nearby companies at "Marine Messe Fukuoka" and "Rakuten Seimei Park Miyagi" for COVID-19
Fully acquired AltioStar Inc., a U.S. company with innovative technology for virtualization of wireless access networks
Rakuten Communications Platform was comprehensively adopted by German telecom operator 1&1
Launched the communication platform business organization Rakuten Symphony
Total issued points of "Rakuten Points" exceeded 2.5 trillion points
Total securities accounts of "Rakuten Securities" reached 7 million
Domestic e-commerce distribution exceeded 5 trillion yen
Established Rakuten Symphony Inc.
Launched the online supermarket platform "Rakuten Zen-Nihon Super"
Celebrating 25th anniversary of founding
Rakuten NFT Marketplace and Sales Platform "Rakuten NFT" launched
Rakuten Car Sharing Reservation Service "Rakuten Car Share" launched
Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the launch of "Rakuten Ichiba"
Rakuten Mobile announced "Rakuten UN-LIMIT VII"
Rakuten Securities achieved 8 million securities accounts
Total issued points of "Rakuten Points" exceeded 3 trillion points
Relocation of Rakuten India's base office "Rakuten Crimson House Bengaluru" to a new office due to expansion
Rakuten Bank surpassed 13 million deposit accounts
Rakuten Card issued over 27 million cards
Announced the goal to achieve "2023 Carbon Neutrality"
Rakuten Insight launched AI tool "Rakuraku Profile" that automatically generates target profiles
Rakuten Mobile launched "Strongest Senior Program" targeting customers aged 65 and over
Rakuten launched "Rakuten Analytics", an analysis platform that supports data-driven decision making
Rakuten Rakuma revamped its brand item inspection service to "Rakuma Appraisal Service" and then to "Rakuma Strongest Appraisal"
Rakuten Mobile surpassed 8 million contracts
Rakuten Mobile enhanced and renewed its contract app "Rakuten Link" by adding AI features "Rakuten Link AI"
Rakuten obtained SBT certification through the international climate change initiative
Rakuten Card and Mizuho Financial Group signed a strategic capital and business alliance
Rakuten Group, Rakuten Card, Mizuho Financial Group, Mizuho Bank, US Card, and Orient Corporation signed a business alliance agreement
Launched the partnership card "Mizuho Rakuten Card" between Mizuho Bank and Rakuten Card
Vissel Kobe, achieved its first J1 League championship since the club was founded
Rakuten announced new AI models optimized for Japanese language, "Rakuten AI 2.0" and "Rakuten AI 2.0 mini"
"Rakuten Bank" surpasses 12 trillion yen in deposit balance
"Rakuten Securities" achieves the highest number of securities accounts in Japan with 12 million accounts
Rakuten Mobile launches AI service "Rakuten AI for Business" for corporate customers
Rakuten Symphony collaborates with Cisco, Airspan, and Tech Mahindra as the first partner in the "Real Open RAN Licensing Program"
Rakuten Mobile surpasses 8.5 million contracts
Rakuten ID and Gurunavi member ID linkage exceeds 10 million
Received designation for "Rakuten Pay" and "Salary Digital Payment"
Amendment of Articles of Incorporation
Rakuten establishes new organization "Rakuten Tech Center Europe" in Paris, France
Rakuten Mobile and US-based AST SpaceMobile successfully conduct video calls via direct communication between low-earth orbit satellites and commercial smartphones in Japan
Rakuten collaborates with Brave1 to support startups in Ukraine
Rakuten Mobile and Rakuten Symphony achieve the first domestic implementation of AI-powered RIC in large-scale Open RAN commercial networks
Rakuten decides on the sales policy for government stockpiled rice
"Rakuten Bank" surpasses 17 million deposit accounts
"Rakuten Securities" launches "Kabu Pita™", allowing domestic stocks to be purchased from 100 yen with specified amounts
Rakuten Mobile surpasses 9 million contracts
Rakuten is selected for the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and NEDO's AI development project "GENIAC" to strengthen AI development capabilities
Rakuten begins full-scale offering of agent-type AI tool "Rakuten AI"
Rakuten hosts the large-scale experience event "Rakuten AI Optimism"
Rakuten Securities' "iSPEED®" surpasses 10 million downloads
Rakuten Mobile launches new optional service "Strongest Protection" to strongly support the safety and security of smartphones
Rakuten Bank × Rakuten Securities account linkage service "Money Bridge" exceeds 6 million accounts
Rakuten establishes "Hometown Resident Support Consortium" for the social implementation of the "Hometown Resident Registration System"
Rakuten Travel begins offering AI agent "Rakuten Travel AI Hotel Search" that proposes the most suitable accommodation for users
Rakuten Securities introduces FIDO2 "Passkey Authentication" for all channel logins
Rakuten Mobile begins offering "Rakuten Strongest U-NEXT"
Rakuten Rakuma starts offering listing support functions utilizing AI technology
Rakuten Monkeys win the 2025 CPBL Taiwan Series
Rakuten Securities achieves the highest number of securities accounts in Japan at 13 million
Rakuten and Japan HP announce the introduction of "Rakuten AI" to HP PCs
Rakuten Points' total issued points surpass 5 trillion points
Rakuten renews naming rights for Miyagi Stadium and renames it "Rakuten Mobile Strongest Park Miyagi"
Uber and Rakuten promote strategic partnership and co-create new value
Rakuten Mobile surpasses 10 million contracts
Rakuten Bank's deposit balance exceeds 13 trillion yen
Q3 revenue was 697.1 billion yen, up 10.9% YoY; consolidated Non‑GAAP operating profit was 48.6 billion yen, up 25.9% YoY; IFRS operating profit was 39.5 billion yen, up 396.3% YoY; EBITDA was 123.5 billion yen, up 4.0% YoY, all setting new records.
Rakuten Group received the Special Award in the Online Marketplace Operator category at the Product Safety Awards organized by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). The award recognized its efforts to create a safe and secure shopping environment on Rakuten Ichiba and Rakuten Rakuma, as well as its collaboration with merchants, third-party organizations, government agencies, and industry groups.
Rakuten and U.S.-based AST have agreed to establish a new company, "Rakuten AST," to build a satellite direct communication system using low Earth orbit satellites and commercially available smartphones in Japan. The company has been selected for a Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications project and is expected to receive up to 148 billion yen in funding over approximately three years through CIAJ. The goal is to construct the satellite communication network and commence domestic operations by the end of March 2029.
Rakuten’s autonomous delivery service, “Rakuten Autonomous Delivery,” marked its second anniversary on November 6, 2026, surpassing 10,000 cumulative deliveries. Monthly deliveries have grown to 6.4 times the level at launch. From November 6 to December 3, Rakuten is holding a commemorative campaign, “Second Anniversary Thank-You Festival.” Deliveries also began on the same day in some areas of Ariake and Shinonome in Koto City, with the service area being expanded in stages.
Rakuten Insight reported that in a survey conducted from July 24 to 28, 2026, the recent one-year AI-driven purchase behavior rate was 25.6%. The most common expected benefit was "proposals that suit me," and the decision-making preference for AI proposals was "intuition first" at 48.8%. Regarding AI usage, 20.7% had experienced failures, 34.5% felt the enjoyment of choosing had decreased, and the most sought role for AI was "search tool" at 53.4%.
Rakuten Travel compiled breakfast review ratings posted between October 6, 2025, and October 5, 2026, by hotel category, and released a ranking. In the City & Leisure category, "The Tower Hotel Nagoya" in Aichi Prefecture topped the list, while in the Business category, "Almont Hotel Kyoto" in Kyoto Prefecture secured first place. At The Tower Hotel Nagoya, Japanese cuisine featuring seasonal ingredients from the Tokai region, such as a multi-course set meal, is served.
Rakuten Securities announced in November 2026 that it had surpassed 15 million total accounts, the highest number for a single domestic securities firm. From reaching 14 million accounts in April 2026, it grew by 1 million accounts in about seven months. To commemorate the achievement, a campaign will be launched on X (formerly Twitter) starting November 2, offering digital gift vouchers to 165 randomly selected participants.
Rakuten Securities announced a press release regarding the Q3 results of the 2026 December fiscal year (Japanese GAAP, consolidated). The consolidated results of the Rakuten Group for the same quarter are scheduled to be announced on November 13, and Rakuten Securities' results are based on Japanese GAAP, which differs from IFRS.
Rakuten Ichiba announced a forecast of consumer trends for winter 2026 based on purchase behavior analysis data. It coined the term "warm winter shift consumption" for consumption behaviors anticipating a mild winter, and introduced three themes: "smart winter gear", "emergency severe weather preparedness goods", and "active winter gourmet".
Rakuten Books conducted a survey of 5,455 users and found that those who read 3–5 books per month had an income satisfaction rate of 51.4%, surpassing the 39.8% of those without a reading habit. Among households with an annual income of 8 million yen or more, the proportion of people who frequently read business books was about 2.3 times higher than in other income groups. Additionally, in anticipation of Autumn Reading Week, we will hold a fair selling thank‑you price books at 45% off the regular price.