Terrible experience (Business development department, rakuten ichiba) - Business Development Department Rakuten Employee Review

1.0
Feb 12, 2016
Recommend
Business Outlook

Pros

Great office, new office is even better than google Japan. Although I joined only a few months ago (2015) I have already made many wonderful friends.

Cons

Most smart people leave within 2 years. Managers cannot understand talent from abroad. People here are extremely domestic, if you have i.e. A Wharton business school degree they will think a Japanese person from a mediocre college is better than you , because the only school they have heard of is Harvard (CEO went to Harvard Business school and constantly brags about it). Managers here don't want smart people who come up with new but potentially risky ideas, they only want loyal slaves who will just do what is asked. Everyone underestimates the impact of cultural difference here and things will be even worse for you if like me you have a Japanese last name but you were raised abroad. I was once even told to stop pretending I am not Japanese just because I did not use Keigo properly, which I wasn't familiar with to start off. Anyway MANY managers are absolutely RACIST but act like they support globalisation only infront of the CEO. Behind Mickey's back they are criticising everything non-Japanese. Absolutely ridiculous. I joined Rakuten with great hopes but am truly disappointed.

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5.0
Mar 25, 2026
Recommend
Business Outlook

Pros

Rakuten Rewards has great life balance. Too bad the economy was getting rocked.

Cons

Don't really have any cons. I understand that the market's been hard so had to downsize the force, so that was kinda challenging. Hopefully AI will increase everyone's output.

4.0
Jun 22, 2026
Recommend
Business Outlook

Pros

Flexible Hours, Benefits, Pay, lunch provided 3 days per week,

Cons

There were no cons while I was there

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