Masa
Joined Rakuten Group in July 2022, mid-career
Department: Entertainment Service Development Department (ESDD)
Commerce & Marketing Company
Position: Quality Assurance (QA) Engineer
Place of birth: Osaka, JapanHobbies: Baseball, reading comic books, motorcycle touring
Paternity leave period: approx. 1 month
Rakuten Group supports its employees in achieving a balance between work and childcare. In addition to the legally mandated childcare leave, Rakuten Group has established its own childcare leave system that allows employees to set the length and frequency of time off to suit their lifestyles. The "Childcare Leave at Birth (Paternity Leave)" program allows employees to take up to four weeks (28 days) of leave to care for a new child up to eight weeks after birth, while the "Mom & Dad Childcare Leave Plus" program extends this period to one year and two months when both parents take childcare leave.
Over the past few years, the percentage of men taking parental leave at Rakuten Group has grown, from 18.4% in 2020 to 71.6% in 2024, an increase of about 53 percentage points.
Masa, a QA engineer for Rakuten Books, is one employee who took paternity leave. In 2024, he devoted himself to childcare about a month after the birth of his first child. We interviewed Masa about his experiences during paternity leave, what he discovered during that time, and the support he received at Rakuten Group.
もくじ
✔Overcoming Anxiety Over First-time Childbirth and Child-rearing as a Couple
✔The Paternity Leave Experience Enhanced Work and Helped Recognize the Importance of the Work Environment
Overcoming Anxiety Over First-time Childbirth and Child-rearing as a Couple
──Please introduce yourself.
Hello, my name is Masa, and I am a QA engineer for Rakuten Books.
I was born in the Senshu area of Osaka Prefecture, home to the famous Danjiri Festival and its elaborate pulled carts. I love to play and watch baseball, and although it's been a while recently, I also enjoy motorcycle touring. When I have time to myself, I often read manga.
──What made you decide to take paternity leave?
When my wife reached the stable stage of her pregnancy, we had several discussions about how we would proceed with childcare, and I decided to take paternity leave.
One specific reason is that this is our first experience with childbirth and raising a child, so we are of course anxious. After doing some research and asking my friends who are raising children, I learned that the first month or two after the birth is the most difficult time. My wife wanted me to take paternity leave to support her, and I wanted to focus on childcare during this difficult time so that we could both work together and get through it.
──What specific concerns did you have about childcare?
Everything was new to me, so I was really worried about a lot of things. Will breastfeeding go okay, will bathing the baby go smoothly, can we get enough rest, what if someone gets sick, what if we get too tired, or something else happens? So many things came to mind.
──I see, you wanted to focus on the post-birth situation and get through it together.
As a team leader of the QA group at Rakuten Books, you are in charge of managing all team members, creating a comfortable working environment for them, and training them. Were you worried about leaving the workplace for a while?
No, I wasn’t too worried. That was partly because the paternity leave period was only one month and there were not many duties I had to hand over, but above all it was because my supervisor and team members were very kind and understanding. They said to me, "Please prioritize childcare in your work," so I was able to start my leave with peace of mind.
──I see, so you were able to concentrate on raising your child for a month without other worries.
Did you have many challenges taking care of a child for the first time?
Yes, I did. I often felt pretty lost, greatly perplexed, especially when the baby was crying and I didn’t know what my child wanted me to do. It was especially tough when I couldn't soothe the baby and the crying wouldn’t stop.
But the first time the baby showed me a happy smile, I felt a joy like I had never felt before. My paternity leave period was only one month, but my baby grew quickly in that short time. I’m so glad I got to see that growth up close.
──What are the other positive experiences you had with taking paternity leave?
It was good to take parental leave and actually experience 24-hour childcare, which gave me a strong sense of how difficult childcare can be.
My wife was back home with her parents for the first month after giving birth, so I went to see her every weekend. At that time, my wife was extremely exhausted and sleep-deprived, so I knew that childcare must be hard work. But I couldn’t truly understand how tough it was until I experienced it myself. I also felt gratitude once again for my wife, who is amazing.
Our relationship has always been good, but I feel like we are having more conversations as a couple than ever before, and our bond has become stronger. By going through the difficult times together, we were able to share not only the difficulties but also the joys and pleasures of raising a child.
The Paternity Leave Experience Enhanced Work and Helped Recognize the Importance of the Work Environment
──It sounds like your paternity leave experience had a positive impact on your family life going forward.
Did your return to work go smoothly?
Yes, my paternity leave was originally just one month, and I had done a thorough handover beforehand, so I was able to resume work without any major issues.
But unlike before, childcare now awaits after work. So more than ever, I need to finish work on time without overtime as much as possible. Because of that, I’ve now become a lot more aware of how to work more efficiently. I think I am more efficient than before.
Also, parenting is full of unpredictable events. Thanks to my childcare experience, I feel like I can now stay calm and handle unexpected situations and problems at work.
──I see you are making use of your experience in childcare in your work as well.
Do you have support from your team members?
Yes, I am blessed to be surrounded by supportive team members, who have helped when my workload was heavy and overtime seemed inevitable. It’s allowed me to focus on childcare in the evenings even after returning to the workplace.
Also, childcare has helped me realize the importance of balancing work and family, and I respect the work styles of my team members more than ever before. With that in mind, I’d like to create an even better work environment.
──What advice would you give to those who are thinking of taking paternity leave or want to work while raising children?
Babies really do grow day by day. One day, they can’t do something, and the next day, they can. I was only able to witness those moments up close because I took paternity leave and could be with my child all day. And when I look at my child’s face, my worries strangely just melt away.
Balancing childcare and work isn’t always easy. But childcare isn’t something to take on alone, and it’s important to have the support of those around you, including your partner, family, and colleagues.
At Rakuten Group, taking paternity leave and taking care of children is never a setback when it comes to work! If you are expecting a baby, please consider taking paternity leave.
Come work with us!
The Entertainment Service Development Department (ESDD) is seeking talented individuals to join our team in developing new services, managing daily operations, and driving continuous improvements. Recruitment is open for a variety of positions, including engineers and product managers. We look forward to receiving your application!
