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Rakuten Group, Inc.

A Japanese technology conglomerate that runs one of the world's largest online marketplaces, Rakuten Ichiba, alongside a web of services spanning e-books (Kobo), messaging (Viber), fintech, and mobile phone networks. Founded in 1997 by former investment banker Hiroshi Mikitani, the company began as a small startup called MDM before launching its flagship marketplace. The name Rakuten is the Japanese word for "optimism," chosen to evoke the lively spirit of a bustling open-air market.