People & Culture
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Blog
A culture built to Collaborate, Innovate and Empower: Behind the scenes of life at Rakuten
What’s it really like to work at Rakuten Group? A collection of short films brings audiences into the daily lives of Rakuten employees, showing how collaboration, growth and purpose are experienced across teams and locations. At the heart of Rakuten’s culture is a simple but powerful approach: Collaborate, Innovate, Empower. These values are woven into everything Rakuten does, from product develop…
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Rakuten Kobo’s push for smarter, more personal reading
As AI and digital transformation continue to reshape our lives, the simple pleasure of reading a good book remains a fundamental human activity. Yet even this age-old practice is undergoing changes. As Michael Tamblyn, CEO of Rakuten Kobo, explained during a headlining keynote at Rakuten AI Optimism 2025 in Yokohama, Japan, Kobo isn’t just selling books; the company is adapting to technological sh…
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People & Culture
Sir Paul Smith shines at ‘by R’ show in Tokyo
After 14 years, Sir Paul Smith has returned to the Tokyo Fashion Show – this time in collaboration with Rakuten’s ‘by R’ project. During Rakuten Fashion Week TOKYO in March 2025, the veteran British designer teamed up with Rakuten Fashion to put on a show with a personal touch. “I am so grateful for the opportunity to showcase the collection here in Tokyo, as you know, I have a lot of respec…
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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:…
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Blog
Remote work? Japan isn’t sold
As much of the world embraces the joys of sweatpants at work, video calls and lunchtime laundry breaks, Japan looks to be charting a different course. Remote work? Nice idea, but it’s not for everyone. Earlier this year, Rakuten Insight – Rakuten’s consumer research arm with around 2.2 million registered monitors – quizzed 1,000 people from around Japan on how they actually want to work*1. The sur…
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How Rakuten Viber is shaping connections from chats to commerce in the Philippines
What if a single app could connect you with loved ones, grow your business and simplify your finances? Rakuten Viber is making that vision a reality in the Philippines, evolving into a comprehensive super app designed to meet the diverse needs of the Filipino market and make the lives of Filipinos easier. Recognizing the Philippines as a key market and a launchpad for its global innovations, Viber…
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Rakuten Kobo expands Kobo Plus in Asia, reinforcing commitment to readers worldwide
Rakuten Kobo is bringing its all-you-can-read Kobo Plus subscription service to Singapore and Malaysia, marking a major expansion in Asia and a significant step in its global mission to empower readers. The move, marked by a recent media event in Singapore, underscores the company’s commitment to providing accessible and affordable reading options worldwide. Rakuten Kobo’s vision unvei…
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Empower, Inspire and Act: Rakuten Celebrates International Women’s Day Worldwide
Rakuten’s dedication to inclusion extends far beyond a single day, and this past March, the company amplified its commitment through a series of global initiatives for International Women’s Day (IWD). With the aim to “Empower, Inspire and Act,” Rakuten offices worldwide dedicated the entire month to fostering meaningful conversations, amplifying voices and inspiring action…
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Tsundoku, obi collecting and autumn reading: Rakuten Books survey
‘Tis the season for getting cozy with a good book – at least according to the most recent survey by Rakuten Books, Rakuten’s online platform in Japan for physical entertainment. Over 10,000 users were quizzed about their habits, nearly 30% of whom revealed that they read every day, with another third reading at least weekly. Most prefer to sink into their books during relaxed weekend hours (…
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