Hiroshi Mikitani

SoftBank accused a former employee who had joined Rakuten Mobile of taking confidential technical information and sued both the employee and Rakuten Mobile. The former employee was criminally convicted. In 2026, however, the Tokyo District Court dismissed the claims against Rakuten Mobile, finding its involvement in unlawful acquisition or use unproven.

State of the evidence

Criminal case against the former employee and civil litigation documented

Legal status — source text

Former employee convicted; in March 2026, the Tokyo court dismissed all SoftBank claims against Rakuten Mobile.

Attribution

Corporate responsibility alleged but rejected by the court; no personal wrongdoing by Mikitani

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

Mikitani's decision to build a fourth nationwide mobile network based heavily on cloud/Open RAN architecture led to years of losses, substantial cash consumption and pressure on group debt. At the end of 2023, Reuters reported thirteen consecutive quarters of operating losses totalling approximately $5.5 billion.

State of the evidence

Financial results documented

Legal status — source text

No personal proceedings

Attribution

Direct strategic responsibility as founder and CEO

In 2023, the tabloid FLASH published accusations and insinuations about Mikitani's links to antisocial forces and use of illegal drugs. Mikitani and Rakuten sued. After successive judicial decisions, the media outlet's liability became final in 2026, and a correction stated that the allegations were untrue.

State of the evidence

Public allegations subsequently found to be defamatory

Legal status — source text

Judgment favourable to Mikitani became final in 2026; damages and a correction ordered.

Attribution

Mikitani was the target of the allegations and the claimant, not the perpetrator of any established wrongdoing

Rakuten Mobile acknowledged that a former logistics executive had participated with suppliers in a scheme involving fraudulently inflated invoices, causing substantial losses. The company dismissed the employee, admitted that its controls had failed to prevent the irregularities, and announced governance and procurement verification reforms.

State of the evidence

Fraud by former employee and inflated invoices acknowledged by the company

Legal status — source text

Proceedings involving the former employee and partners, among others; no personal criminal implication of Mikitani.

Attribution

Governance responsibility as group chairman; no personal involvement alleged

Person targeted by the proceedings

un ancien salarie et des partenaires

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

Following accounts from players and staff of harassment attributed to pitcher Tomohiro Anraku, the Rakuten Eagles conducted an internal investigation and substantiated several incidents. The club did not retain the player. Mikitani apologised and acknowledged that the organisation had been too lax in detecting and preventing such behaviour.

State of the evidence

Harassment substantiated by the club following an internal investigation

Legal status — source text

Club disciplinary measures; no personal proceedings against Mikitani

Attribution

Responsibility as owner and for governance, not as perpetrator of harassment

Rakuten sought to introduce a universal order threshold above which sellers could no longer display separate delivery charges. Merchants protested against the transfer of costs. The JFTC sought an urgent injunction, considering that the measure might constitute abuse of a superior bargaining position.

State of the evidence

Official regulatory concerns followed by corrective measures

Legal status — source text

Injunction application withdrawn following modifications; review closed in 2021.

Attribution

Governance responsibility; no personal criminal wrongdoing

Rakuten began selling businesses a self-collection kit for PCR testing early in the pandemic. The Japan Medical Association and other experts raised concerns about sampling reliability, interpretation of results and the risks of unsupervised use. Rakuten suspended sales approximately ten days after launch.

State of the evidence

Public health controversy documented

Legal status — source text

No personal proceedings identified

Attribution

Governance responsibility and corporate communications

The JFTC examined clauses imposed on hotels by Rakuten Travel, particularly price parity and minimum inventory requirements. Rakuten proposed commitments to remove or modify the disputed practices, and the authority approved the plan.

State of the evidence

Competition investigation and voluntary commitment documented

Legal status — source text

The JFTC accepted a commitment; its approval did not constitute a formal finding of infringement.

Attribution

Governance responsibility as founder and CEO; conduct attributed to Rakuten

Mikitani imposed English as Rakuten's working language, with TOEIC targets and career consequences for managers who failed to meet the standards. The measure prompted scepticism, stress and criticism of its effectiveness and the human cost of such a rapid transformation.

State of the evidence

Company policy documented

Legal status — source text

No proceedings

Attribution

Direct personal responsibility as promoter of the policy

Rakuten accumulated a substantial stake in Tokyo Broadcasting System and proposed integrating the two groups. TBS resisted what it considered an unwanted takeover, triggering a prolonged battle over governance, shareholder rights and control of a major media group.

State of the evidence

Control battle documented

Legal status — source text

Litigation and anti-takeover measures; no criminal conviction of Mikitani

Attribution

Direct strategic responsibility