Legal Team Members - Corporate Legal Section, Legal Department, Group Compliance Supervisory Department

Role summary

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Rakuten is seeking legal professionals for its Corporate Legal Section and Group Compliance Supervisory Department in Japan. Responsibilities may include advising business units on commercial transactions, drafting and reviewing contracts, supporting corporate governance, managing regulatory matters, and developing group-wide compliance policies and controls. Candidates are expected to have a law degree and relevant in-house or law-firm experience, with knowledge of Japanese corporate, commercial, technology, or regulatory law. Strong communication, sound judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to work with diverse stakeholders are important. Business-level Japanese is likely required, while English proficiency is highly valuable in Rakuten’s international environment. Bar qualification may be preferred for some positions, but requirements can vary by assignment and seniority.

About the employer

Rakuten Group, Inc. is a major Japanese technology and internet services company headquartered in Tokyo. Founded in 1997, it operates a broad ecosystem covering e-commerce, online marketplaces, fintech, banking, securities, credit cards, mobile communications, digital content, travel, and advertising. Rakuten’s business model connects these services through its membership program and loyalty ecosystem, serving customers and merchants in Japan and international markets. The company is also developing telecommunications infrastructure through Rakuten Mobile and invests in artificial intelligence, cloud services, data, and digital innovation. Rakuten has a diverse, international workforce and promotes a culture influenced by its Englishnization initiative, although Japanese remains important for many domestic legal and corporate roles. Employees typically work in a fast-moving environment involving complex technology, commercial, regulatory, and cross-border issues.

Working in Japan

Japan offers strong opportunities in technology, e-commerce, finance, telecommunications, manufacturing, tourism, education, and professional services. Tokyo is the main international business hub, while Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Sapporo, and Okinawa provide alternative lifestyles and growing employment markets. Japanese workplaces value punctuality, preparation, teamwork, respect for hierarchy, and careful communication. Daily life is generally safe, convenient, and supported by excellent public transport, healthcare, and reliable infrastructure, though housing and commuting costs can be high in Tokyo. Learning Japanese is highly beneficial, particularly outside multinational companies. Most professional foreign workers need an employer-sponsored work visa, commonly the Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa; highly skilled professionals may qualify for a points-based visa. Applicants should arrange an employment contract, residence procedures, housing, health insurance, and tax registration before or soon after arrival. Japan’s four main islands are Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku, with many smaller islands offering distinctive regional cultures.