Rakuten is a Japanese e-commerce and online retail company founded in 1997 by Hiroshi Mikitani. It operates a marketplace that connects buyers and sellers, offering a wide range of products, from electronics to clothing. Rakuten is known for its loyalty program, which rewards customers with points for purchases that can be redeemed for discounts on future orders. In addition to its e-commerce platform, Rakuten has expanded into various sectors, including digital content, telecommunications, and financial services. The company has also invested in sports, owning the Rakuten Eagles, a professional baseball team in Japan, and sponsoring various global sports events.