Rakuten
Rakuten Group, Inc. (楽天グループ株式会社) (Japanese pronunciation: [ɾakɯ̥teɴ]) is a Japanese technology conglomerate based in Tokyo, founded by Hiroshi Mikitani in 1997. Centered around the online retail marketplace Rakuten Ichiba, its businesses include financial services utilizing Fintech, digital content and communications services such as the messaging app Viber, e-book distributor Kobo, and Japan's fourth mobile carrier Rakuten Mobile. Rakuten has more than 28,000 employees worldwide, operating in 30 countries and regions, and its revenues totalling US $12.8 billion as of 2021. Rakuten was the official sponsor of the Spanish football club FC Barcelona from 2017 until 2021, and the Golden State Warriors of the NBA as of 2022. It is sometimes referred to as the "Amazon of Japan".
Headquarters in Tamagawa, Setagaya, Tokyo | |
Native name | 楽天グループ株式会社 |
|---|---|
Romanized name | Rakuten Group kabushiki kaisha |
| Formerly | MDM, Inc. (1997–1999) |
| Company type | Public KK |
| Industry | |
| Founded | 7 February 1998 |
| Founder | Hiroshi Mikitani |
| Headquarters | Setagaya, , |
Area served | 30 countries and regions |
Key people | Hiroshi Mikitani (Chairman and CEO) Masayuki Hosaka (Vice Chairman) |
| Services | Online shopping |
| Revenue | ¥1,681.76 billion (2021) |
| ¥−194.7 billion (2021) | |
| ¥−135.8 billion (2021) | |
| Total assets | ¥16,831.2 billion (2021) |
| Total equity | ¥629.01 billion (2021) |
| Owner |
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Number of employees | 18,364 (2019) |
| Subsidiaries | |
| Website | global |
Some past significant investments include Buy.com (now Rakuten.com in the US), Priceminister (France, now Rakuten.fr), Ikeda, Tradoria, Play.com, Wuaki.tv, Pinterest, Ebates, Viki, The Grommet. The company also holds and has held stakes in Ozon.ru, AHA Life, Lyft, Cabify, Careem, Carousell and Acorns.