The Key Point: Claude Fable 5 enables multi-hour autonomous agent runs through continuous self-verification without intermediate human oversight, saving Rakuten time when scaling AI-powered business processes.
Rakuten has been using Claude since March 2025, specifically the new Fable 5 model, to accelerate software development and allow agents to work autonomously over extended periods. The enhanced self-verification capabilities of the new model make it possible to deploy agents for multi-hour or all-day tasks without continuous human monitoring.
Yusuke Kaji, General Manager of AI for Business at Rakuten, describes his role’s mission as finding “transformative innovations and scaling them across the entire organization.” Since March 2025, Rakuten has deployed Claude as a key technology: through Claude Code to accelerate software development to production readiness, and through Custom Claude Managed Agents now deployed across product development, sales, marketing, and finance. These agents are integrated into Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Rakuten’s own task management system. Kaji credits Rakuten’s decision for Anthropic to the company’s enterprise focus, product competency, and technological judgment.