Rakuten is a large Japanese e-commerce company that plans to conduct all business operations in English. In 2010, Rakuten decided to transition its official workplace language to English, which was completed by the end of 2012. The CEO aims to transform Rakuten into a global rather than Japanese company. Employees risk firing if unable to communicate in English within two years and menus are written in English. The policy aims to strengthen overseas sales as many Japanese employees cannot speak English, which puts the company at a disadvantage globally.

1. How Rakuten is planning to run
their entire bussiness in English?
s1190124 Mitsunari Ishii

2. Contents
● What is Rakuten?
● Berif History of Rakuten
● English in Rakuten
● Why is English so important?
● Businesses in foreign countries
● Conclusion
● References

3. What is Rakuten?
Rakuten is one of the most largest e-commerce company in
Japan.
They expands their company to many bussinesses
● E-Commerce Market Place
● Credit and Payments
● Potral and Media
● Travel

4. History
● February 7, 1997:Founded
● December 7, 2000: M&A with Infoseek
● June 30, 2010: Decided to change their
language to English
● July, 2012: Completed changing their
language to Engulish

5. English in Rakuten
● In 2010, Rakuten decided to change their
official language in workspace to English.
● By the end of 2012, they are going to
change their language to English entirely.
● Hiroshi Mikitani, the CEO of Rakuten,
desires his company to become a world
company rather than a japanese company.

6. ● Their policy is people who can not speak
English on some level in 2 years after they
entered Rakuten, will be fired.
● Even cafeteria menus are written in English.
● Employees must take 600-750 TOEIC score.

7. Why English so Important?
● Rakuten has 6000 employees but 400 are
from foreign countries.
● In their policy, they would like to expand their
oversea sales, but Japanese people often
can not speak English. This is strong
disadvantage. So they decided their
language in the company entirely.

8. Businesses in Foreign
countries
● Rakuten has taken over many companies
even in foreign countries.
○ They are targeting foreign countries rather than
Japan.
● There are many world-wide companies in
Japan:
○ Automobile Makers
○ Uniqlo
○ Nomura Group
● But being different with Rakuten, they do not
have rules of language in companies.

9. Conclusion
● Rakuten is large Japanese e-commerce
company, but they would like to expand their
businesses to overseas.
● They have strict rules of language in the
company.
○ they must use English in the company.
● Their policy is stronger than any other
Japanese world-wide companies.

10. References
● Rakuten's all-English edict a bold move, but
risky too
○ http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2010/07/16/news/rakutens-all-english-edict-a-bold-
move-but-risky-too/#.Ub_pdVB_w3E
● Rakuten's decision on English not welcomed
by everyone
○ http://www.japantoday.com/category/kuchikomi/view/rakutens-decision-on-english-not-welcomed-by-
everyone
● Rakuten to make English official language
○ http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201007010404.html