Rakuten chief Mikitani to donate ¥1 billion to Ukraine

Jiji Press

15:35 JST, February 27, 2022

TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Rakuten Group Inc. President, Chairman and CEO Hiroshi Mikitani tweeted Sunday that his family will donate ¥1 billion to the government of Ukraine, which has been under attack by Russia.

The donation, to be delivered through embassies, will be used for humanitarian assistance, according to the leader of the major cybermall operator.

On Twitter, Mikitani has said that the Russian action is “a challenge to democracy” and that he wants the Japanese government to show a tougher attitude against Russia.

Rakuten is providing coupons allowing free voice communications in Ukraine on its Viber app.

Mikitani posted a letter to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Twitter on Sunday, in which he said: “I am deeply saddened by the news of the military attack against Ukraine. My thoughts are with you and Ukraine people.”

“I sincerely hope that Russia and Ukraine can resolve this issue peacefully and that Ukraine people can have peace again as soon as possible,” he also said in the letter, adding that he will continue to provide support to Ukraine and its people.

Mikitani visited Ukraine in the early summer of 2019 and met with Zelenskyy.