The Rakuten Group held the Rakuten AI Optimism event at Pacifico Yokohama from August 5-7, 2026. This was the 7th iteration of the Rakuten Optimism event, which has attracted a cumulative 840,000 participants, with this year's theme being \"Pioneering the AI Era.\" The event featured an \"Exhibition\" showcasing Rakuten Group's AI applications and a \"Business Conference\" with lectures and panel discussions by industry leaders.

The Exhibition featured multiple booths including Rakuten AI, Rakuten Mobile, Fintech, and Sports divisions, offering visitors immersive experiences of AI integrated with Rakuten services. The program showcased low-earth orbit satellite communications, personalized recommendations, payment and wealth management services, and AI-powered athlete conditioning monitoring, presenting a vision of AI embedded throughout daily life.

The Business Conference featured prominent industry leaders including Rakuten Chairman and President Hiroshi Mikitani, Kazuto Ataka from Keio University, and FamilyMart's Chief Marketing Officer, providing multifaceted insights into how AI will drive transformation across industries and society.