Rakuten faces backlash from cybermall tenants over free delivery plan
Rakuten Inc.'s plans to scrap delivery fees for certain purchases on its shopping site are drawing harsh responses from tenants who complain the company's move violates the antimonopoly law. Some tenants at the Rakuten Ichiba cybermall plan to ask the Fair Trade Commission to investigate ...
Rakuten to launch full-scale mobile phone services in Japan in April
Rakuten Inc. aims to launch full mobile phone carrier services in April, according to Hiroshi Mikitani, the head of the major cybermall operator. The Rakuten group initially planned to begin mobile services last Oct. 1 but postponed the move due to a delay in establishing ...
Major cybermall operator Rakuten Inc. plans to sell OverDrive Holdings Inc., a wholly owned U.S. unit that provides electronic book distribution services. Rakuten announced Wednesday that it will sell all outstanding shares of the Ohio-based subsidiary, which provides e-books to libraries and educational institutions, to ...
The Japanese owner of Taiwan's first foreign-owned pro baseball club unveiled the new name and uniform of the team on Tuesday, hoping to apply his experience in Japan to attract more fans to the team's home stadium in Taiwan. Hiroshi Mikitani, founder of e-commerce giant ...
Draft bill would require IT giants to report regularly to Japanese government
The bill aims to keep one-sided deals in check by requiring shopping website operators to disclose terms with stores that use their platforms to sell products.
Tokiko Iino: Appetizing tales begin with the plate
In the past four years, if you've stepped into Isetan Shinjuku and checked out one of its in-store displays, chances are you've seen Tokiko Iino's food styling designs.
Sellers ask antitrust body to probe Rakuten's free shipping policy
Merchants on Rakuten Inc.'s online shopping mall have requested that the Fair Trade Commission investigate the e-commerce giant's planned free shipping policy, according to sources familiar with the move. Some online stores allege that Rakuten abuses its dominant position to force them to shoulder shipping ...
When street style eclipses the runway
Tokyo fashion week's battle for identity has always been between that of the runway and the fashion on streets — has the event finally found a happy medium?
Rakuten taking limited orders for services on its delayed Japan mobile network
E-commerce giant Rakuten Inc.'s mobile unit started taking limited orders for services on its network Tuesday after a delay in installing network base stations forced it to postpone a full-scale launch until next April. Rakuten Mobile Inc. initially aimed to make a full-service entry into ...
Tokyo's fashion week gets a Japan rebrand
As the new sponsor of Tokyo's fashion week, e-commerce giant Rakuten may appear lowbrow — but in times of rising subculture trends, that could work in its favor.
New communications minister Sanae Takaichi backs 5G networks for Japan's rural areas
Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Sanae Takaichi has expressed her eagerness to promote active use of fifth-generation, or 5G, communications networks for rural areas. "I want to fully utilize the 5G technology ... in order for people to live safely and get high-quality welfare and ...
