Rakuten announced in early 2012 that it will make English its official language company-wide by 2012. All internal meetings will be conducted in English, even if no foreigners are present. Board meetings have been in English since March 2012, and the president has said that board members who cannot speak English within two years will be fired. Employees are under pressure to learn English, with 200 out of 3,000 headquarters employees taking lessons. Achieving certain scores on the TOEIC English test will be required for promotion, with scores ranging from 600 to 750 depending on job title. The company aims to expand overseas, so setting English as the official language will help it conduct business globally.

1. How Rakuten is planning to run their
entire business in English?
s1170153
Noritaka Shimizu

2. How Rakuten Works
Internet shopping mall operator Rakuten Inc.
surprised the public by announcing early this year
it will make English its official language by 2012.

3. How Rakuten Works
All internal meetings will be in English whether
foreigners are present or not. Board meetings and
weekly all-company meetings have been in
English since March, and President Hiroshi
Mikitani has said board members who can't speak
English in two years will be fired. Cafeteria menus
are now in English.

4. Speak Business English
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5. How Rakuten Business Plan
Rakuten is one of a very small number of
Japanese companies able to push English as its
official language because Mikitani, who has an
MBA from Harvard, is fluent in English and is very
charismatic, analysts say, though making such a
decision and getting positive results are two
separate things.

6. English education in Rakuten
Rakuten employees are under a lot of pressure to
learn English. Spokesman Mizushima said 200
employees out of 3,000 working at the
headquarters take lessons from Berlitz Japan Inc.,
a language school chain that has an exclusive
contract to send English teachers to Rakuten.

7. English education in Rakuten
Achieving certain scores in the TOEIC, or the Test
of English for International Communication, will be
required for promotion, Rakuten spokesman
Megumu Tanefusa said. The range of required
TOEIC scores is from 600 to 750 depending on
job title, but workers in the lowest two levels don't
need TOEIC scores.

8. The necessity for two languages
Why was the official language set to two?
That is because overseas is put into the view.
Technology is [ Japan ] developed now.
It is limited to lengthen sales only in Japan.
Therefore, you have to work also overseas.
We also need to study an overseas thing hard just
because the needs of Japan and an overseas
also differ.

9. The necessity for two language
Economy of Japan also becomes rich because a
Japanese company plays an active part overseas.
I think it impossible to bear all the economy only
in Japan.
The future of Japan becomes bright because we
the young generations put on English in school.

10. Reference
● Rakuten's all-English edict a bold move, but
risky too
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20100716f1.htm
● Speak Business English
http://www.languagesuccesspress.com/
● English for Business
http://www.easybusinessenglish.com/