Pride in action: Rakuten celebrates LGBTQ+ inclusion
This June, Rakuten exemplified its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion with vibrant Pride Month celebrations around the globe. Rakuten team members participated in a range of events designed to raise awareness, foster understanding and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. Here’s a look at some of the Pride Month 2025 highlights from across the Rakuten Group.
Celebrating pride in Japan: Solidarity, dialogue and individuality
Rakuten once again showed strong support at the Tokyo Pride 2025 Pride Parade & Festival, participating in both the festival and the parade. More than 150 Rakuten employees, allies, friends and family gathered to represent Rakuten and march in the Tokyo Pride 2025 Pride Parade, demonstrating their unwavering support for LGBTQ+ individuals in Tokyo. The energy was high as Rakuten festivalgoers walked alongside other organizations and community members, creating a powerful visual statement of solidarity.
At the Tokyo Pride 2025 Festival, Rakuten hosted an engaging booth where attendees could learn about the company’s various DEI initiatives. Rakuten Travel and Rakuten Beauty highlighted their specific inclusivity efforts for the LGBTQ+ community. The booth also featured fun, interactive games like “spin the wheel,” with participants winning exciting Pride-themed Rakuten prizes, providing a fun and engaging way for attendees to learn more about Rakuten’s commitment to inclusivity.
Rakuten also hosted two insightful seminars during Pride Month in collaboration with Community Empowerment Season 2025, fostering dialogue and promoting greater understanding of LGBTQ+ issues. The first seminar, “How to make stakeholders more sustainable? – Learn from Rakuten Beauty and its DEI approach,” featured Hiroko Imai and Yuri Sakane from Rakuten Beauty. They explored what it means to make businesses, services and stakeholders sustainable through the lens of DEI, including the challenges faced in the process.
The seminar also provided a look into how Rakuten Beauty is working to support hair salons across Japan in becoming more inclusive, directly from leaders of the movement. The second seminar, “How can we make an LGBTQ+ inclusive society and workplace,” featured Mika Yakushi, an LGBTQ+ advocate and founder of Japanese NPO, ReBit, who delved into approaches for promoting DEI in the workplace. A representative from R-Pride, Rakuten’s employee resource group that supports LGBTQ+ employees and allies, also shared their own initiatives and best practices for employers.
Global celebrations: Extending support worldwide
Rakuten’s commitment to Pride extends far beyond Japan. Rakuten Taiwan proudly participated in Taiwan’s annual Pride parade – Asia’s largest Pride celebration – last fall, highlighting the LGBTQ+ community’s visibility and showcasing Rakuten’s inclusive ecosystem in the city of Taipei.
Rakuten’s U.S. offices added some extra flair to Pride celebrations with a lively Drag Trivia night, testing attendee’s knowledge of LGBTQ+ history and culture in an engaging and entertaining way. Additionally, a fireside chat was hosted with Point Foundation, a leading organization that provides financial aid, leadership training, mentoring, and community support to LGBTQIA+ college-bound students in the U.S.
This fireside chat allowed Rakuten employees to connect with Point Foundation scholars and learn about their experiences, fostering a deeper understanding of the challenges and triumphs within the LGBTQIA+ student community. Finally, Pride-themed happy hours were also held across North American offices to celebrate colorfully and foster a sense of community.
Rakuten’s global presence underscores the company’s commitment to supporting LGBTQ+ communities worldwide, with the goal of becoming a stronger advocate for diversity and inclusion. These Pride Month activities are just a few of the many initiatives Rakuten undertakes throughout the year to foster a diverse and inclusive workplace. The company remains dedicated to challenging prejudice and advocating for a more equitable society, where everyone feels welcome, respected and valued.
