Soccer Jul 7, 2021
Barcelona forwards apologize for video mocking hotel staff in Japan
Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele's comments during a 2019 preseason tour have sparked a growing backlash, including a protest from Barcelona sponsor Rakuten.
National / Science & Health Jul 2, 2021
Japan launches new cancer treatment using special antibodies and beams of light
The antibodies, when illuminated for several minutes with near-infrared lasers, trigger a chemical reaction that is said to destroy only the cancer cells.
National May 15, 2021
Rakuten founder Hiroshi Mikitani calls Tokyo Olympics a ‘suicide mission’
Mikitani, who has been an outspoken critic of the government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, said the sporting event, due to start in two months, should not be held this year.
National / Crime & Legal May 6, 2021
SoftBank sues Rakuten and former staffer alleging use of leaked 5G tech
SoftBank is demanding Rakuten suspend and scrap their 5G base stations, amid intensifying competition in Japan's telecommunications sector.
Business / Corporate Apr 23, 2021
Retailer Rakuten beats Japanese lenders at digital banking game
by Taiga Uranaka
New digital bank accounts with the internet conglomerate better known for its online shopping services expanded by 20% last year, and recently topped 10 million.
Business / Corporate Apr 21, 2021
Japan and U.S. plan to keep watch on Rakuten after Tencent investment
Rakuten said that the Tencent group company's acquisition of the stake is purely for investment purposes and rejected the possibility that shareholders would gain access to customer data.
Business / Corporate Apr 21, 2021
Top online brokerage lures young Japanese with zero-fee trading
by Shoko Oda
SBI Holdings Inc. will implement a series of campaigns that will virtually eliminate commission fee for spot trading in equities, the financial conglomerate said in a statement Tuesday.
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.