Japanese online retailer Rakuten to compete globally

Hiroshi Mikitani, the chairman and chief executive of the Japanese online retailer Rakuten, has said 2012 is the opening year of the company's "true globalisation."

He is on a mission to challenge the internet retailer Amazon and believes that global expansion means speaking English.

Two years ago Mr Mitikani made English the corporation's official language, insisting it is used at all meetings and in emails.

He has been telling the BBC's Simon Jack more about his global ambitions for Rakuten.

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