Rakuten Logo PNG
The Rakuten logo is bright and festive. The company puts maximum effort into providing consumers with convenient services. The emblem’s lines convey determination and technological progress.
Rakuten was founded in Tokyo in February 1997, when Hiroshi Mikitani, a former employee of the Industrial Bank of Japan, left corporate banking to build an internet business. The company was first registered as MDM and was soon renamed Rakuten, a name derived from Japanese characters meaning “optimism.” At that time, e-commerce in Japan was still in its early stages, and the internet had only begun to enter everyday life.
In May 1997, Rakuten launched Rakuten Ichiba, an online marketplace with a model different from Amazon. Amazon bought and sold goods directly, while Rakuten gave independent merchants their own store pages inside the platform. Sellers could manage their shops, write product descriptions, communicate with customers, and pay Rakuten rent for using the marketplace. On launch day, only 13 sellers were registered, and company employees personally called entrepreneurs to explain the format.
The model gradually gained traction, helped by the “marketplace” structure and direct contact between merchants and buyers. In 2000, Rakuten was listed on JASDAQ, Japan’s market for growth companies. The same year, it acquired a financial division that later became Rakuten Securities. This marked the start of Rakuten’s expansion from an online shopping service into a broader group spanning commerce, finance, media, and digital services.
Sports and acquisitions later fueled Rakuten’s growth. In 2005, the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles played their first season in Japanese professional baseball, while Rakuten bought LinkShare in the United States for $425 million. Further deals included PriceMinister in 2008, Buy.com in 2010, Kobo in 2011, Viber in 2013, and Ebates in 2014. In 2010, Mikitani made English the required working language at Rakuten. In 2016, the company signed a sponsorship agreement with FC Barcelona.
Meaning and History
Rakuten’s logos emphasize its name to highlight the group’s focus on the service sector. No matter which service the client uses, the platform’s quality brings joy and a good mood. The bright color reinforces the verbal message. Each emblem update signals global growth, expansion, and entry into new markets.
What is Rakuten?
The company owns 70 internet services, including online stores, communication, banking, ticket sales, food delivery, internet encyclopedias, books, and TV. In addition to its platforms, it owns shares in major corporations: Ozon, Pinterest, and others. It operates in 30 countries. It is located in Japan.
1999 – 2017
The first logo appeared in 1999, after the company renamed itself Rakuten. The company was called MDM, Inc. for the first two years. The emblem consists of an image and a name.
The red circle with a white capital R inside resembles an icon or favicon. Since the corporation’s main business is online, this concise symbol is well justified. The letter R is the first letter in the company’s name. Red is very attention-grabbing. As a result, the figure looks like a button you want to press. The circle symbolizes harmony and repetition, suggesting the company’s enduring existence.
The group’s name is shown in the image. The full name is Rakuten Group Kabushiki-gaisha, but the logo uses only the first word. In Japanese, it means optimism. The combination of black and red colors expresses joy, inner uplift, and confidence in the future.
2017 – 2018
2018 – today
The company has established its own logistics network and is preparing to launch 4G services. The expansion is marked by a new logo: the name in large font, with the central part of the word emphasized.
The bright red letters symbolize growth and development. Their size signifies the addition of new services. The underline is a narrow strip, reminiscent of a receding road. This hints at logistics routes. The strip shows the company’s aspiration toward the future, a long-term journey that continues.
Font and Colors
The emblem is executed in bright red. This signifies expression and enthusiasm. It reflects a strong commitment to achieving results. The team enjoys what they do and aims to convey that energy to clients.
The color indicates rapid growth and development. In its 25 years, the company has risen to the third-largest position globally in e-commerce.
Red conveys the joy of life. The company’s founder, H. Mikitani, created the project after his relatives’ deaths. The event showed the businessman that life is short and needs to be lived happily and brightly right now.
The font is similar to QARVIC Grunge Bold, but with its own nuances. The even, straight letters indicate confidence and stability.