Business / Corporate Mar 26, 2021
NTT Docomo cuts mobile fees, intensifying price battle with rivals
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, who took office in September, has repeatedly demanded mobile phone service operators slash their fees.
Business / Corporate Mar 15, 2021
Rakuten sees biggest surge in 18 years after Tencent and Japan Post invest
by Vlad Savov
The e-commerce pioneer is looking to expand its capabilities in artificial intelligence, financial technology and mobile networks.
Business / Corporate Mar 12, 2021
Rakuten to raise $2.2 billion as Japan Post and Tencent buy stakes
by Pavel Alpeyev
The Japanese e-commerce pioneer has benefited from a boom in online shopping during the pandemic, but faces stiff competition from Amazon.com Inc.
Business / Tech Feb 1, 2021
Japan's new law regulating tech giants' commerce platforms takes effect
The law is aimed at protecting small firms doing business with tech giants, which may use their strong bargaining power to impose unfair business terms on their smaller partners.
Business / Corporate Jan 29, 2021
Rakuten cuts mobile fees for light users to maintain edge over bigger rivals
by Kazuaki Nagata
The firm now says it will lower the cost depending on the amount of data used within the space of a month, saying the fee will even be free for particularly light users.
National / Crime & Legal Jan 12, 2021
Rakuten worker arrested for alleged SoftBank 5G secrets leak
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department on Tuesday arrested Kuniaki Aiba, 45, on suspicion of leaking secret information in breach of unfair competition prevention law.
Business Dec 26, 2020
Rakuten exposes 1.48 million sets of data to access from outside
Japanese online shopping mall operator Rakuten Inc. said Friday that a computer security problem at the group exposed 1,486,291 sets of personal and corporate information to access from the outside. Of the affected data, managed by Rakuten, credit card subsidiary Rakuten Card Co. and e-money ...
Business Dec 25, 2020
Japan Post and Rakuten to forge digital tie-up aimed at boosting efficiency
The companies will try to tackle delivery staff shortages and other challenges by sharing Japan Post's data on postal items and Rakuten's forecasts of online shopping demand.
Business / Corporate Dec 22, 2020
SoftBank to match NTT Docomo's ¥2,980 smartphone plan as price war escalates
by Kazuaki Nagata
Some in the industry have accused the government of excessive meddling after Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s administration urged major carriers to lower fees.
Business | FOCUS Dec 11, 2020
U.S. crackdown on Huawei hands Japan a 5G lifeline
by Gearoid Reidy and Ayaka Maki
With U.S. partners seeking out suppliers from friendlier nations, vendors in the close U.S. ally suddenly seem a lot more attractive to carriers around the world upgrading their networks.
Business / Corporate Nov 16, 2020
Walmart to sell 85% stake in Seiyu to Rakuten and KKR
by Lisa Du and Takashi Nakamichi
The deal is meant to shore up Seiyu’s digital operations with the aid of its new owners as demand for online retail grows in Japan.
Business / Corporate Sep 30, 2020
Rakuten rolls out ultrafast 5G service with bold price plan
by Kazuaki Nagata
The move could give the mobile carrier a competitive edge and fuel momentum toward cheaper phone fees.