Tag - rakuten

 
 

RAKUTEN

BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 5, 2023
Prospect of NTT Law abolishment unclear amid fierce opposition
The idea was first proposed by a ruling Liberal Democratic Party panel to make the communications giant internationally competitive.
A Rakuten Mobile branch in Tokyo. Rakuten is set for another tough year in 2024, at a time when rivals are on the attack with competitive pricing and reward campaigns.
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 29, 2023
Rakuten's mobile misadventure: from ambitious plan to millstone
Founder and CEO Hiroshi Mikitani's vision of a low-cost network using cloud-based software and cheap hardware did not pan out.
People use smartphones on the street in Tokyo in January 2019.
BUSINESS / Companies / FOCUS
Nov 20, 2023
The NTT Law — a guard against monopoly, or barrier to innovation?
Some say the law regulating the telecom giant stops it from competing against the likes of Google, but others say it contains vital market protections.
Rakuten Securities President Yuji Kusunoki
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 17, 2023
Rakuten Securities sees payoff from free trading plan after a year
The firm plans to make up for the decrease in domestic stock trading commission fee revenues by expanding its financial services such as margin trading.
Mizuho Financial Group will raise its stake in Rakuten Securities to nearly 50%.
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 9, 2023
Mizuho said to raise Rakuten Securities stake to almost 50%
The banking group plans to increase its investment in Rakuten’s online securities arm, which isn’t proceeding with an initial public offering for now.
Hiroshi Mikitani, chairman and CEO of Rakuten Group, speaks during a news conference in Tokyo in May.
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 17, 2023
Rakuten rally from record lows clouded by looming bond deadlines
The most pressing task now for Rakuten is to raise funds for a wall of more than $5 billion of bonds due in the next two years.
BUSINESS / Markets
Oct 2, 2023
Zero-commission services intensify brokerage competition in Japan
SBI Holding's decision to scrap commission fees for domestic stock trading threatens to undercut the brokerage industry's profitability.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / NPB NOTEBOOK
Sep 25, 2023
Pacific League playoff race set for frantic finish
Three Pacific League teams are fighting for two playoff spots as the season nears its conclusion.
Rakuten Group plans to consolidate its payments and points businesses and fold them into Rakuten Card, its credit card and loans unit.
BUSINESS / Companies
Aug 10, 2023
Rakuten to combine credit card and mobile payments business
The move could set the struggling e-commerce company up to eventually list its card business.
Hiroyuki Nagai, president and chief executive officer of Rakuten Bank (left), attends the company's listing ceremony at the Tokyo Stock Exchange on April 21.
BUSINESS / Companies
Aug 8, 2023
Rakuten Bank sees edge over rivals once BOJ ends negative rates
Uncertainty remains over when the Bank of Japan will scrap the policy, which has squeezed banks’ lending margins since its introduction seven years ago.
Hiroshi Mikitani, co-chief executive officer of Rakuten Medical, speaks at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's meeting in Yokohama on Thursday.
BUSINESS
Aug 7, 2023
Rakuten’s Mikitani spends a fifth of his time on biotech startup
Rakuten Medical, based in San Diego, employs about 200 people and specializes in a therapy that uses light and immunotherapy drugs to fight cancer.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jul 14, 2023
Rakuten is hanging on. It should consider hanging up
Rakuten is selling whatever it can to plug a hole in its finances caused by a misadventure into mobile.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Markets
Jul 13, 2023
Credit Suisse AT1 fallout embroils more brokerages in Japan
Documents have raised questions over whether information over the risks associated with the product was properly disclosed to investors.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 7, 2023
Rakuten’s ¥1.8 trillion debt fuels concern despite funding
The e-commerce giant has racked up four years of losses as its mobile-phone business drains cash.
BUSINESS
Jul 4, 2023
Rakuten applies to list brokerage arm as debt concerns mount
Billionaire Hiroshi Mikitani’s online retailer has seen its shares tumble to a 14-year low.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / Sac Bunts
Jun 26, 2023
Pacific League trio already facing critical juncture in playoff race
It might be a long summer for fans of teams at the bottom of the Pacific League.

Longform

Eme-Ima Kitchen is one of over 10,000 kodomo shokudō in Japan. A term first used in 2012 to describe makeshift eateries offering free or cheap meals to disadvantaged kids, it now refers to a diverse range of individuals, groups and organizations working to provide not only food but a sense of belonging to both children and adults.
Japan’s ‘children’s cafeterias’ are booming — but is that a good thing?