Drone tie-up prompts more Japan firms to leave Rakuten e-commerce site
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- A Tokyo-based eatery said Monday it has withdrawn its store from Rakuten Group Inc.'s e-commerce website, adding to the growing numbe
Tokyo-based eatery Berg has pulled its store off Rakuten Group Inc.'s e-commerce platform, joining other Japanese companies that have removed their presence over the company's reported partnership with a German drone start-up. The cafe and bar in Shinjuku district cited its anti-war stance as the reason for the withdrawal.
According to a familiar source, Rakuten is set to collaborate with German defense artificial intelligence company Helsing. Helsing specializes in AI-powered drone systems, capable of autonomous operation and missile interception. The drones are designed for mass production and have been utilized in recent conflicts like Russia's war against Ukraine.
The Japanese leather goods manufacturer and retailer based in Osaka, which sells the QuatroGats brand, also announced the withdrawal of its store from Rakuten's marketplace. The company adheres to a corporate philosophy that conflicts with Rakuten's partnership. Their product line includes wallets with peace and nuclear abolition designs.
Cataloghouse Ltd., a mail-order firm and publisher of a shopping catalog magazine in Japan, withdrew its Tsuhan Seikatsu (Mail Order Life) store from Rakuten's website last week.
Written by urgent.news from The Mainichi's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
