( CNN ) -- You wo n't find the word `` Englishization '' in the dictionary , but Google it and your search will lead you to links discussing imposed multilingualism and the loss of Japan 's indigenous culture . Hiroshi Mikitani sees nothing wrong with the word , incorporating it easily into our discussion about Japan 's future . The internet entrepreneur and CEO of Rakuten Inc , Japan 's largest e-commerce site , intends to change his country from the inside out . `` And Englishization is a part of it , '' he says bluntly . With 6,000 employees and sales topping $ 3 billion a year , Mikitani intends Rakuten to keep growing into a global player . The goal : be as common a household name as Google in 10 years . The path to that goal , believes Mikitani , is to speak the global language of business , English . `` English is the only global language . We 're doing a global business . I think this is the only way a Japanese service organization can become a global organization . '' By 2012 , Mikitani 's pledge is to make Rakuten an English-only corporation . All communication , verbal and email , would be sent not in Japanese , but in English . It 's a daunting task for a Japanese company headquartered in Tokyo . Last year 's Test of English as a Foreign Language ( TOEFL ) rankings showed Japanese test takers scored second worst in the East Asia region , below North Korea and Myanmar . Only Laos ranked lower than Japan . Honda 's CEO , Takanobu Ito , recently weighed in , saying publicly , '' It 's stupid for a Japanese company to only use English in Japan when the workforce is mainly Japanese . '' Mikitani does n't flinch at the criticism . In fact , he seems to relish it . `` The nature of our business is totally different , '' he says , pointing out Honda manufactures a hardware item and Rakuten deals with users on the internet . Then he jabs back at his elder corporate colleague : `` If you want to become successful in other countries , you need to internationalize the headquarters . '' Rakuten is expanding despite Japan 's macro-economic struggles . They are starting a Chinese version of Rakuten and purchasing e-commerce sites in the U.S. and France . `` One thing I know , the definition of 'country ' is going to change . Definition of 'currency ' is going to change , '' says Mikitani . `` There is going to be less importance which country you 're operating from . And there 's going to be global competition , not local to local . '' Mikitani is everything `` Corporate Japan '' is not : young , a risk-taker , outspoken and fluent in English . He started his company with a friend in 1997 , using their own money . The two friends grew the business into the public corporation and powerhouse it is today . The 45 year old , energetic CEO says he is , at the core , utterly Japanese . But he disagrees with how corporate Japan and the policy makers have run the economy and country . Look at the aging demographics and the economy of Japan , says Mikitani , and the writing is on the wall for corporate Japan . Growth , he says , can only happen if Japanese companies go outside of the country for expansion and look for opportunities outside of Japan 's famously produced cars and electronics . `` I felt ( sic ) those kind of ages is over . Now we need to really dramatically change the structure of economy of Japan and IT is going to be an extremely important part of it , '' says Mikitani . `` But none of the Japanese ... for example , politicians , truly understands from the bottom of the heart , how important that is . '' Mikitani feels the two decades-long economic stagnation for Japan has fundamentally affected the country 's young , which spells trouble for the country 's future . `` Japanese society , especially younger people , are so inward looking . They do n't even want to go to other countries . They want to stay here . They want to have a good life , they do n't want to be rich . They want to have a good day to day life . That 's it . And I think we need to be more sort of dynamic , outward looking , '' he says . The solution , hopes Mikitani , will be found in concrete economic policy from Tokyo 's lawmakers and strong leadership from Japan 's companies . Japan can produce innovative , high quality ideas and products , says Mikitani , but the talent needs a direction . He remains positive about his country 's future , despite its problems . Rakuten means optimistic , he points out . `` I think that in absolute terms , we [ Japanese ] are lagging . We are slowing down . I do n't think we need to be pessimistic , but our window is not so long . ''
CEO of Chinese e-commerce giant says English should be second language . Takanobu Ito aims to make Rakuten an Japanese -only company by two decades . Increasing `` Englishization '' is criticized by Honda 's CEO .