Vissel faces challenges after week of turmoil
Seven weeks ago, David Villa's first J. League goal in front of an enthusiastic home crowd led even the most cynical of observers to wonder whether this could be the year that perennial underperformer Vissel Kobe would finally put together a campaign worthy of ...
FC Barcelona to meet Chelsea, Vissel Kobe in summer friendlies in Japan
FC Barcelona will face English Premier League veteran Chelsea and the J. League's Vissel Kobe this July, adding to the list of star-studded club friendlies set to take place in Japan this summer. The Spanish first-division leader, which last October announced plans to visit Japan ...
Rakuten's Hiroshi Mikitani has a new goal for his 17,000 workers: Learn to code
Less than a decade after stunning workers at his tech giant with an edict to learn English, billionaire Hiroshi Mikitani wants to do the same with computer programming. Rakuten Inc. may soon expect its more than 17,000 employees to know how a computer compiles a ...
Vissel add Sergi Samper to loaded lineup
Vissel Kobe has added another name to its ever-growing list of Barcelona connections. The J. League first-division club announced on Thursday the signing of defensive midfielder Sergi Samper, who will become the third player to trade the famed Spanish side's blue and red for Kobe's ...
With super club dreams, Vissel Kobe tries to rewrite history
Most sports writers have their own personal pantheon of inspirations. At the top of mine is Hunter S. Thompson. The legendary gonzo journalist was never a soccer person ("Hey Rube," his published collection of essays for ESPN.com, mentions the sport just once in passing), but ...
Rockets, Raptors set for two games in Japan
Well, it's only preseason contests this time, but Japan will host NBA games for the first time in 16 years when the Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors face each other, the league announced at a Tokyo news conference on Tuesday. The teams will compete on ...
Rakuten's Hiroshi Mikitani set to be big winner in Lyft's impending initial public offering
A Japanese retail billionaire, rather than a Silicon Valley wunderkind, is the biggest beneficiary of Lyft Inc.'s impending initial public offering. Hiroshi 'Mickey' Mikitani's e-commerce group Rakuten Inc. owns 13.1 percent of the ride-hailing company, offering documents show. That would be worth more than $2.9 ...
Warriors an inspiration to Rakuten CEO Hiroshi Mikitani
Effective leadership involves the ability to inspire others. What's more, organizational harmony creates the proper conditions to achieve — and sustain — success. Looking at the Golden State Warriors and Rakuten, Inc., one can see parallels in how they operate, set bold targets and reach them. Billionaire ...
Vissel sign ex-Barcelona star Andres Iniesta to massive deal
J. League club Vissel Kobe on Thursday announced the audacious signing of World Cup-winning former Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta in a deal reported to be worth over ¥3 billion a year. "This is a very special day for me," the 34-year-old Iniesta, who played his ...
Rakuten Inc. gets approval to become nation's fourth major wireless carrier
E-commerce giant granted access to a fierce competition for subscribers alongside industry heavyweights who have long dominated the cellular market.
Masataka Nashida's return next season for a third year at the helm of the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles was formalized on Wednesday as the manager accepted team owner Hiroshi Mikitani's offer. The 64-year-old Nashida has accepted a contract running through next season that carries an ...
Rakuten, NBA teaming up in media partnership deal
Rakuten, Inc. is active in expanding its brand on a global scale, partnering with some of the world's most famous sports teams like soccer powerhouse FC Barcelona and the reigning NBA champion Golden State Warriors this year. Now, it has struck another big deal. The NBA ...
