From Tokyo to Toronto: Pride 2026 at Rakuten
At Rakuten, celebrating our LGBTQ+ community is a year-round practice. For Pride 2026, our teams marked the occasion with everything from a Tokyo Pride employee parade to drag performances in Toronto and leadership discussions in San Mateo. Here is how we celebrated Pride 2026.
Tokyo: Amplifying voices and shared experiences
In Tokyo, the spirit of Pride was in full bloom as Rakuten Group’s R-Pride network once again took center stage at the annual Tokyo Pride festival. This year, our team focused on creating tangible connections for both employees and visitors.
The Rakuten booth served as a vibrant community hub, buzzing with energy throughout the weekend. Visitors were invited to step into our interactive photo booth to capture the moment, while many took advantage of exclusive travel coupons offered in partnership with Rakuten Travel, aimed at making inclusive travel experiences more accessible for everyone.
A standout initiative for 2026 was our collaboration with the Music Business Division. The team curated a high-energy playlist celebrating individuality and LGBTQ+ artists, aiming to create a lasting soundtrack that embodies the voices and sentiments of Rakuten’s LGBTQ+ community and allies.
The parade itself saw a sea of Rakuten employees marching with pride, waving flags and sharing the message that at Rakuten, you are free to be your authentic self.
Global perspectives: Celebrating Pride worldwide
The energy of Pride Month was felt across our international offices, where local teams tailored their celebrations to reflect their specific communities and office cultures.
Toronto: Rakuten Kobo
The team at Rakuten Kobo in Toronto leaned into the celebratory spirit by hosting an unforgettable Pride Happy Hour. The event featured a show-stopping performance by local drag artists, bringing a deep appreciation for queer art and history to the office workspace. It was an opportunity for team members to connect, celebrate and support local talent.
San Mateo: Rakuten International
In San Mateo, the Rakuten International Pride+ Employee Resource Group (ERG) centered their Pride 2026 programming around the theme “Growing in Community.” The festivities began with a session spotlighting alumni from the Point Foundation — the nation’s leading scholarship organization dedicated to supporting LGBTQIA+ students. The momentum continued with a collaborative event hosted alongside the APID (Asian Pacific Islander and Desi Alliance) ERG, where a prominent DEI thought leader joined the team to lead an engaging discussion on the theme of “Unlocking Authentic Leadership.”
Carrying the momentum forward
While Pride Month brings a unique focus to our DEI efforts, the work of building an equitable workplace is a continuous process. The events held in June are part of a broader, year-round strategy to ensure that Rakuten’s policies, internal culture, and external services remain inclusive for all.
As we move forward, we remain focused on the goal of creating a professional environment where diversity is not just recognized, but actively supported. We thank all the team members across the globe who contributed to these initiatives, helping us foster a workplace where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
