Elaine
Entry date…Joined in January 2025 (mid-career)
Department…EC Marketplace Development Department (ECMPD)
Commerce & Marketing Company
Position…Project Manager
Hometown…Manila, PhilippinesHobbies…Traveling, cooking, baking, reading, movies, listening to music
Elaine, who is originally from Manila, came to Japan to study e-commerce management in graduate school. After working as an IT consultant supporting clients in the manufacturing industry, she joined Rakuten Group.
Today, she works as a project manager for Rakuten Ichiba, one of Japan’s most well-known online shopping platforms. We asked Elaine about her journey to Rakuten, her current role, and what makes the work environment unique.
INDEX
✔Joining Rakuten to Unleash Tech and Business Expertise
✔Working as a Project Manager for R-Storefront
✔Being Part of High-Impact Projects on Rakuten Ichiba
Joining Rakuten to Unleash Tech and Business Expertise
――Please introduce yourself.
Hello, I’m Elaine from Manila, and I’m a project manager in the EC Marketplace Development Department.
After earning degrees in business and economics, I worked in Manila for a while before moving to Niigata to pursue a master’s degree in e-commerce management. I had actually visited Tokyo once during university for a research presentation. I fell in love with Japan immediately, and from that moment I knew I wanted to return.
After finishing graduate school, I worked as an IT consultant at a Japanese company in Tokyo while continuing to study Japanese. Rakuten Group is the second company I have worked at in Japan.
One of my biggest hobbies is travel. I love going on adventures in new places I’ve never been before and exploring cities. One of my favorite things to do is to try all the local food. I also enjoy cooking, baking, reading, watching movies, and listening to music.
── Did you decide to join Rakuten because you studied e-commerce business in graduate school?
Yes, since my graduate studies were focused on e-commerce, I always hoped to work for a company in that field. Rakuten Ichiba is one of Japan’s most prominent online marketplaces, and I felt it was the ideal place to build a career in e-commerce.
Rakuten also allows me to combine both my technology and business experience, and to aim for more ambitious goals.
Rakuten isn’t biased toward any particular culture or race, and it’s common for people of different personalities to cooperate with one other, so I found this aspect of the company to be a good fit for me. I’m very satisfied with how open and diverse the environment is.
Working as a Project Manager for R-Storefront
── What services does your team handle?
I’m part of the project management team responsible for R-Storefront (Japanese only), the product registration system.
Our main platform, RMS (Rakuten Merchant Server) (Japanese only) supports merchants by providing tools for store setup, product registration and updates, inventory management, campaign settings, and more.
── Tell us about your current role and your role as a project manager.
My role is to understand what our teams and merchants need and help deliver high-quality services. As one of the project managers in the R-Storefront group, I manage project schedules, costs, scope, quality checks, resources, and risks.
── What does your current workflow look like?
We generally follow this process: First, we begin by reviewing project requirements. Then we create the initial plan and hold a project launch briefing with everyone involved.
The next step is the development phase, where we track the status of development, risks, and any problems that arise. Once development is complete, we test to ensure quality. Next, we prepare the release plan.
Once the release plan is approved, we proceed with monitoring in the same environment as after the release to ensure that there are no problems. Once it is confirmed that the project has met the criteria for success, the project is closed, and we conduct a team retrospective.
Being Part of High-Impact Projects on Rakuten Ichiba
──Tell us about the team you work with.
I work with talented members from all over the world who have a wide range of expertise. Their roles range from engineers and testers to product managers and fellow project managers.
I talk to them daily to ensure that the project goes smoothly. In addition to meetings, we also have casual chats around the office and sometimes enjoy meals or coffee together.
── What do you find most rewarding about your work?
Working with project managers who bring such diverse skills and experiences is incredibly inspiring. Achieving the same goal together gives me a strong sense of accomplishment. I’m also proud to be part of projects that have a wide reach and significant impact. It is very motivating to contribute to the growth of innovative e-commerce services.
Since I studied e-commerce, I believe digital tools and AI are essential for merchants to succeed today. Rakuten’s mission to support merchant growth aligns perfectly with my own values.
──What do you find challenging in your work?
Rakuten Ichiba handles many large projects at the same time. Maintaining high quality while meeting tight deadlines requires careful prioritization and balance.
──What kinds of skills or experiences have you gained through this work?
I’ve had many opportunities to grow as a project manager. I’ve gained experience in project planning, risk management, and communication across different teams. Through this work, I’ve strengthened my leadership, analysis, and problem-solving skills.
I feel that working across multiple projects and using industry-standard tools and e-commerce technologies in practice has strengthened my adaptability, problem-solving skills, and critical thinking.
These experiences have helped me develop the ability to deliver results and drive continuous improvement in the fast-moving e-commerce market.
──What kind of person do you think is best suited for this kind of work?
I believe project managers for Rakuten Ichiba need to be proactive and positive. Deadlines can sometimes be tight, priorities may shift, and unexpected challenges can arise.
It’s important to collaborate with your team members, embrace diverse perspectives, and stay resilient in the face of setbacks. Strong communication skills and a commitment to continuous improvement are also essential.
These qualities are key to leading a project to success as a project manager.
──Finally, could you please give a message to those who are considering joining Rakuten Group?
Work at Rakuten is dynamic, and decisions are made quickly. The company actively embraces new ideas and technologies,which has fostered an environment where you can deepen your expertise and continue to grow.
You will work alongside talented people from diverse backgrounds and have the opportunity to take part in large, impactful projects, which will help you develop new skills essential for your growth. If you’re passionate about setting higher goals and taking on new challenges, Rakuten can be an excellent place for you.
I look forward to working with you!
*The information in this article is current as of December 26, 2025.
Come work with us!
The EC Marketplace Development Department (ECMPD) of the Commerce & Marketing Company 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!
