8 Dec 2024
Mickey Mikitani has grown Rakuten into one of Japan’s largest private companies
Long-time Asia specialist and former UK Parliamentarian – Mark Logan – met with Rakuten founder and CEO Hiroshi “Mickey” Mikitani at Rakuten’s headquarters in Sentagaya City, Tokyo.
Mickey Mikitani has been a transformative figure in global e-commerce. Since founding Rakuten in 1997, he has grown it into a leading e-commerce and technology company.
Mikitani’s decision to implement “Englishnization” in 2010 made English the company’s official internal language, promoting a globally competitive workforce and enhancing international expansion. This bold move included mandatory language testing for employees to achieve English proficiency.
Speaking to a packed audience, Logan asked Mickey:
“Countries and companies must continually renew. With that in mind what advice do you have for politicians and business leaders to stem decline and avoid the fate of companies such as Nokia and Blackberry?”.
Mickey spoke about the importance of innovation, and also gave Logan advice on how to master the Japanese language.
Outside of Japan Mikitani has driven Rakuten’s interests in the UK and several other key markets. These moves have bolstered Rakuten’s international presence and positioned it as a global competitor in digital services.
With a net worth reportedly in the $billions, Mikitani is one of Japan’s wealthiest individuals, ranking among the top 15 in the country and holding a prominent position in Asia and the global tech industry.