Business Overview

Rakuten Group provides more than 70 services in a wide range of fields, including e-commerce, travel, digital content, and other Internet services in Japan and overseas, as well as financial services such as credit cards, banking, securities, electronic money, and smartphone app payments, mobile services such as mobile carrier services, and professional sports. By organically linking these services through a membership system centered on Rakuten members, Rakuten has created a unique “Rakuten ecosystem” that is unlike any other.

*Our Businesses Key Figures
https://global.rakuten.com/corp/careers/services/

Department Overview

We are providing legal support in a wide variety of Rakuten group services including e-commerce, digital contents, financial services and others, and supporting new service launces and acquisitions which actively continue to take place all over the world. Through our daily jobs, we can find exciting opportunities in the field of Rakuten group businesses and many chances to work on laws and regulations both of Japan and other countries in the world.

Position:

Why We Hire

It is said that trade is free in principle, but due to the recent Russia-Ukraine war, US-China trade friction, economic security, etc., the environment surrounding import and export businesses is becoming increasingly severe. Under such circumstances, working to strengthen the trade control system at the Rakuten Group, Inc. will make you directly feel the fun and reward of building the systems and operations. This position oversees the Group's export control, so you can get a bird's-eye view of the entire Group by experiencing various products and technologies. In addition, since this section is under the Legal and Compliance Department, it is possible to learn risk managements other than the trade management. This position is ideal for those who have a long experience in import and export control, import and export customs operations, and international logistics practices, and who want to make use of that experience as a management department.

- Attractiveness of the Business/Organizational Phase
This is a core organization that leads export and import management across the Rakuten Group, supporting a wide range of businesses.
While engaging with diverse domains such as e-commerce, fintech, and mobile, you will not only handle operations but also take an active role in designing rules and building effective management frameworks.
As the business continues to expand, the team is focused on balancing sophistication and efficiency. By working closely with business units, you will identify challenges and help build more practical and effective control systems. This is an environment where you can directly experience the impact of improving processes and creating meaningful change.

- Attractiveness of the Level of Autonomy and Organizational Culture
As a small, highly skilled team, each member is given significant ownership and the opportunity to be deeply involved in their areas of responsibility.
While grounded in legal and compliance expertise, the team works in close proximity to business units, enabling fast-paced decision-making and communication through face-to-face interactions, chat, and online meetings.

- Career Steps (Skills and Career Paths You Can Gain)
Through hands-on experience, you will develop and deepen globally recognized expertise in areas such as Japan’s Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act (FEFTA) and the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (EAR).
In addition, by working with a holistic view of the entire group, you will gain opportunities to expand your career in multiple directions, including:
Advancing into leadership and management roles
Broadening into global compliance and risk management functions
Transitioning to business-side roles through collaboration with overseas offices and business units.
This position also offers frequent opportunities to collaborate internationally using English, enabling you to strengthen both your professional expertise and business acumen.

- Differentiation from Competitors (Attractiveness Leveraging Rakuten Group Resources)
Because the Rakuten Group operates a diverse range of businesses-including e‑commerce, financial services, and telecommunications-you can gain hands-on experience with a scale and level of complexity that few other companies can offer.

Position Details

You will initially be responsible for handling practical tasks such as screening related to the export of goods and provision of technology for Rakuten Group, Inc. and its group companies and business units (including overseas entities).
Over time, we expect you to grow into a leadership role, taking on management responsibilities within the team.

- Promoting the development and improvement of security export control systems and processes, particularly for IT and telecommunications-related technology transfers
- Supporting the establishment of control frameworks based on the EAR
- Establishment, revision, and abolition of trade-related rules, detailed regulations, and manuals
- Serving as a point of contact for trade-related consultations for internal departments and group companies
- Experience in internal training and awareness-raising activities.
- Classification determination and objective requirements screening
- Preparation and maintenance of legally required export/import documentation (including responses to post-clearance customs audits)

Work Environment

Team Structure
Number of Members: Legal and Compliance Department: 70 people, Trade Management Section: 4 people
Age Range: 40s to 50s
New Graduate/Mid-Career Ratio: All members joined mid‑career

Backgrounds of Mid-Career Hires

The team is composed of members from diverse industry backgrounds, including trading companies, manufacturers, plant engineering firms, and government agencies.
Each member leverages their own area of expertise while contributing to and supporting Rakuten’s wide range of business domains.

Career Path Examples of Successful Mid-Career Hires

A member with a background in manufacturing, after joining the company, took on a cross-functional role overseeing export and import management across multiple business units and is now leading the development of management systems, including those for subsidiary companies.
Another member, who previously handled trade operations at a trading company, has leveraged regulatory expertise gained prior to joining to drive the establishment of globally aligned management frameworks.

Reasons for joining Rakuten / What makes the role rewarding
One of the key attractions is the opportunity to enhance expertise in export and import management while working across a diverse range of businesses, rather than being limited to a single domain, alongside mid-career professionals from various backgrounds who continuously challenge and inspire one another.

Mandatory Qualifications:

- The ability to act proactively and flexibly based on the current state of export and import compliance practices, and to carry out duties through collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders both within and outside the department
- Experience in security export control operations
- Holder of “STC Associate” or higher certification
- Experience in submitting individual license applications to METI via NACCS (for cargo/technology and services)

Desired Qualifications:

- Experience in IT and telecommunications industries
- Collaboration such as meetings and sharing information with trade management specialists at overseas affiliates
- Establishment, revision and abolition of company regulations, trade-related regulations, detailed regulations, and operational manuals, etc.
- Group-wide import and export inquiry desk
- Education and enlightenment related to import and export
- Knowledge of export control in countries other than Japan (U.S.A., Singapore, EU, India, etc.)
- Experience dealing with government agencies such as the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
- Correspondence to customs post-audit
- English: Business-level proficiency
- Experience in improving operational efficiency through the use of AI

- Experience in classification determination (especially technical classification)
- Experience leading projects or tasks as a leader

Other Information:

Additional information on Location

Rakuten Crimson House
1-14-1 Tamagawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo

Related Pages
- Employee Benefits: https://global.rakuten.com/corp/careers/benefit/

- Employee Conditions: https://global.rakuten.com/corp/careers/information/

- Culture: https://global.rakuten.com/corp/careers/culture/

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