Nabe / Product Manager

Career Steps

4th Year

After working in back-office operations for “Rakuten Edy”, I became involved in product planning. I was in charge of the function to exchange “Rakuten Points” for “Rakuten Edy”.
7th Year

Appointed as the head of “Rakuten Cash”. As a team leader in the Strategic Planning Office, I discussed and considered the future of next-generation e-money with management.
Present

As the head of product planning for “Rakuten Cash” and “Rakuten Edy”, I manage team members. I am also focusing on measures against fraud.

Profile

In 2012, I joined Rakuten Group as a new graduate. I have been involved with “Rakuten Edy” since the start of my career, and now I am also in charge of “Rakuten Cash“. I serve as the head of product planning, combining the strengths of both services. I have also been involved in discussions with management regarding business development and the establishment of new departments. I feel that “the opportunity to experience and learn firsthand what is necessary for decision-making as a manager is also a great appeal”.

Current Role

As the General Manager of the E-money Product Department, I am responsible for product planning for “Rakuten Cash”, an online e-money service, and “Rakuten Edy”, a prepaid e-money service.
“Rakuten Cash” is highly scalable and can connect over 70 Rakuten services across the board. “Rakuten Edy” is strong offline and has the advantage of being usable even if there is no internet connection due to disasters. My biggest mission is to fuse the strengths of these two services and create convenient products that can be used by Rakuten users of all ages. What should e-money services be like? Together with nearly 20 members, we aim to create a new form of e-money for the Rakuten Group.

Why I Chose Rakuten Payment

I wanted to work for a company that would give me the opportunity to provide value through convenient services and to be involved in the planning and operation of services with autonomy from a young age. This was my thought as a student, majoring in Management Systems Engineering at university. When I joined Rakuten in 2012, it was a time when the company was diversifying its business beyond Rakuten Ichiba and expanding its services. I remember having great expectations that it would grow into a leading company in Japan.
In my 7th year, I was appointed as the head of “Rakuten Cash” as a team leader, and I have planned and launched services and features that I believed were necessary for society and users. I feel that I have been able to realize the way of working I envisioned as a student, in a culture that encourages challenges regardless of age or position.

Joy & Appeal of Working at Rakuten Payment

Cashless payment services have permeated daily life and have come to play the role of social infrastructure. Seeing them being used in town strengthens my desire to provide services that can be used safely and securely as infrastructure.
Also, “Rakuten Cash” has launched “Japan's first” and “industry's first” initiatives, such as investment trust accumulation with Rakuten Securities, charging from crypto assets, and charging with sales from flea market apps. “Rakuten Cash”, like “Rakuten Points”, has become a core asset of the Rakuten Group and can be used across various services. When I want to try a new initiative, I can start discussions just by talking to the person in charge within the group. That is a unique strength of Rakuten, allowing for horizontal expansion. While large projects involve more stakeholders, the ability to work together as “ONE Team” is also unique to Rakuten. This collaboration is both rewarding and enjoyable in my work. Going forward, I want to challenge myself to develop new features and initiatives that will make each service spontaneously want to link with “Rakuten Cash”.

Future Career and Goals

What kind of service do I want to deliver to users? As a manager, one of my goals is to give members the opportunity to bring their “I want to do this” ideas to fruition, and to continue supporting those ideas.
In an industry that continues to grow, we have launched numerous “Japan's first” and “industry's first” initiatives. Moving forward, while exploring the future of e-money services, I want to collaborate with Rakuten's rich lineup of services to provide innovative services and features that no one has yet achieved.

Message to Candidates

Rakuten Payment is at the forefront of cashless payment services. It's appealing that the products we create are not only used by users but also covered by the media, providing stimulating experiences.
When I joined, my senior colleagues were proactive in addressing issues without being constrained by sectionalism. I have inherited that mindset and am passing it on to my team members. I would be delighted if those who join us in the future also approach their work with such a mindset.