16:40 - 17:10
SESSION 04

5G

5G as the Game Changer

Commercial services that utilize 5G have been launched in various places in the world, and the full-fledged 5G era is just around the corner.

The main features of 5G are enhanced Mobile Broadband, Ultra-Low Latency Communication, and massive Machine Type Communication. However, 5G is not just an extended technology of 4G. It is said that 5G may create various types of innovative businesses and, as a basic technology of Society 5.0, completely change the way of our lives.

In this session, Mickey Mikitani, a representative director of Japan Association of New Economy, is going to talk about the changes that 5G will bring about in business and society.
Mickey Mikitani
Founder, CEO and Chairman,Rakuten, Inc.
Representative Director, Japan Association of New Economy
Mickey Mikitani
Mickey Mikitani
Mickey (Hiroshi) Mikitani is the founder, chairman and CEO of Rakuten, Inc. Founded in Japan in 1997 with the mission to contribute to society by creating value through innovation and entrepreneurship, Rakuten has grown to become one of the world's leading internet services companies.

Rakuten has a dynamic ecosystem of more than 70 services, spanning e-commerce, fintech, digital content, and communications, bringing the joy of discovery to more than 1.2 billion members across the world. Rakuten is also preparing to become Japan’s newest mobile network operator in 2019.

In July 2017, Rakuten became the Main Global Partner and first-ever Official Innovation & Entertainment Partner of one of the world’s most admired soccer clubs, FC Barcelona, and, in September of the same year, became the first-ever jersey partner for NBA Champions, the Golden State Warriors.

Born in Kobe, Mikitani was educated at Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo, began his career in investment banking, and earned his MBA at Harvard Business School. In 2012, he was awarded the HBS Alumni Achievement Award, one of the school’s highest honors.

Mikitani is also a recipient of the Legion of Honour, awarded by the French government in recognition of contributions to the economy and culture of France. In 2011, he was appointed Chairman of the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, which has the longest history and tradition of any orchestra in Japan, and serves as Representative Director of the Japan Association of New Economy (JANE). In 2015, Mikitani was appointed as Board Director at Lyft, Inc. In 2016, he was appointed Chairman and Director of Rakuten Medical, Inc. (formerly Rakuten Aspyrian, Inc.), a biotechnology company developing precision-targeted cancer therapies based on its proprietary photoimmunotherapy platform, and also took up the role of CEO in 2018.