HEAD OF THE DAY
💴 The Architect of Japanese E-Commerce
When the Kobe earthquake shook Japan in 1995, Hiroshi Mikitani was working as a banker at the Industrial Bank of Japan.
He quit his job and decided to rebuild Japan’s economy not through complex credit models, but through entrepreneurship.
The result: thirteen small online shops grew into Rakuten, a global ecosystem spanning e-commerce, fintech, and telecommunications, generating over 1.6 trillion yen (10 billion USD) in annual revenue.
His biggest taboo-breaking move: in 2010, he made English the company’s official language — despite fierce internal resistance. Today, that decision is seen as a symbol of Japan’s global ambition.
👉 Key takeaway: The courage to make unpopular decisions can be the driving force behind true innovation.
The China Survival Guide for Western Businesses
Entity setup, WeChat strategy, hiring your first local team. 12+ years on the ground in Shanghai.
