Early Life and Education
Hiroshi Mikitani was born on March 11, 1965, in Kobe, Japan. He grew up in Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. His father was a professor at Kobe University and his mother worked for a trading company. Mikitani earned a bachelor's degree in commerce from Hitotsubashi University in 1988. He later attended Harvard Business School, earning an MBA in 1993.
Rise to Success
Mikitani began his career in investment banking at the Industrial Bank of Japan (IBJ). He founded Crimson Group, a consulting firm, before starting Rakuten in 1997. Mikitani launched the online shopping marketplace Rakuten Ichiba on May 1, 1997. Rakuten quickly became one of Japan's largest e-commerce platforms through strategic acquisitions and international expansion. In 2015, Rakuten entered the sport of football by acquiring Vissel Kobe.
Key Business Strategies
Mikitani's leadership philosophy emphasizes adaptability, global thinking, and technological innovation. Rakuten has expanded into various business areas, including e-commerce, financial technology services, digital content platforms, and telecommunications. Mikitani implemented an 'Englishnization' campaign in 2010, making English the company's internal language to facilitate global operations.
Philanthropy
Mikitani is a philanthropist and has donated to various causes, including the Ukrainian government during the Russian invasion. He is also the chairman of the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra.