Rakuten empowers educators in Japan with AI
In just a few short years, generative AI has shifted from a sci-fi concept to a fundamental pillar of the modern workforce and digital life. But as the technology evolves faster than ink can dry on a page, Japan’s education system is facing a distinct challenge: how to update textbooks and curricula before they become obsolete?
Looking to provide one answer, Rakuten is leveraging its own AI expertise to offer vital guidance to schools in Japan. Through the Rakuten AI for Business platform, Rakuten’s AI experts are translating the lessons learned from coaching corporate efficiency into tools for the people shaping the next generation: teachers.
Bringing corporate expertise to the classroom
Rakuten AI for Business was launched in early 2025 by Rakuten Mobile in an effort to empower businesses in Japan to make the most of recent advances in AI technology.
A survey of 300 Japanese SME business owners and decision-makers, commissioned by Rakuten and conducted by Edelman Data & Intelligence in 2024, found that only 16% of respondents were using AI, while 40% of non-users said they struggle to identify AI’s potential benefits.
Rakuten AI for Business seeks to address this lack of uptake through tools designed specifically for the local market, helping users with limited expertise work through security concerns, prompt engineering challenges, and general skepticism.
Many of the same hurdles seem to be present in the education industry, too, prompting the Rakuten AI for Business team to launch their new educational initiative in December 2025.
The first comprehensive AI education training program took place at Tokyo Seitoku University High School. The initiative looks to tackle a dual crisis: building student AI literacy while saving teachers from administrative burnout.
Koki Tsukamoto of Tokyo Seitoku’s planning department highlighted the importance of partnering with a real-world tech company on AI rather than relying on a static curriculum.
“Without the latest information, it’s difficult to use it effectively,” Tsukamoto explains. “Choosing a telco company means they possess accurate and up-to-date information. As AI continually evolves, we determined that a business entity capable of providing continuous training is essential.”
Hands-on training for the real world
The training sessions at Tokyo Seitoku skipped dry theory in favor of immersive, hands-on workshops in which educators were faced with real-world, everyday tasks. Kayo Takahashi, Rakuten’s training representative and Assistant Manager from the AI Adoption Team, notes that the curriculum is highly customizable.
“The training includes lectures on the basics of GenAI and information security for AI use, as well as hands-on workshops,” she says. “In addition to basic training in AI literacy and prompt engineering, we also provided customized training tailored to each school’s specific needs, such as programs for faculty and staff or for students.”
During the initial workshops, teachers used AI to draft online safety guides and simplify complex cybersecurity concepts. The exercises demystified risks associated with GenAI, such as sophisticated cyberattacks, while demonstrating how AI can be used to organize vast amounts of information and accelerate document creation.
Tackling teacher burnout
The sheer volume of behind-the-scenes work – grading, proofreading, lesson planning – is one major driver of teacher burnout in Japan. By streamlining these tasks, AI allows educators to return to what they do best: engaging directly with their students.
Sohini Datta is an English teacher at Tokyo Seitoku. She admits she was hesitant about the utility of the new technology.
“I didn’t have a very good impression of AI because I couldn’t tell if its answers were right or wrong,” she says. “After receiving this training, I could get a better idea of how to use it in the future, which significantly lowered the barrier.”
For Datta, the time-saving potential is game-changing. “As an English teacher, I sometimes have students write essays, but grading takes a tremendous amount of time. If I could have AI help with proofreading, I think I could dedicate more of my time to planning lessons.”
Guiding students into the AI era
Rakuten’s initiative is built on a simple philosophy: for students to succeed, they need mentors who are confident in the digital landscape. Takahashi emphasizes that the goal isn’t to make teachers into software engineers, but effective guides.
“In educational settings, it’s not enough for teachers to simply become proficient users of AI. Educators need to teach students how to use and engage with AI.”
Tsukamoto of Tokyo Seitoku views the adoption of AI in schools as a foundational shift in education.
“If schools can become places where adults have properly used and experienced AI, and this experience serves as a foundation for guiding children – for example, when not to use it, or enabling children themselves to judge whether they should use it – I believe that would truly be a school embracing new technologies.”
By embedding these basic frameworks, Rakuten is transforming schools from passive observers of the AI revolution into active leaders.
“Our aim is to support teachers in improving their work efficiency and provide a secure environment for AI use in schools,” Takahashi concludes, “helping teachers share their AI experience with students and supporting students in acquiring necessary AI knowledge for society.”
To learn more, watch the full RNN report here.
