Kim
Entry date…Joined in April 2024 (mid-career)
Department…Leisure Product Department (LPD)
Commerce & Marketing CompanyPosition…Software QA Engineer
Hometown…Cebu City, PhilippinesHobbies…Video games, sports, jogging, cooking, caring for plants, art, crafts
Kim returned to Rakuten Group in 2024 after a period away from the company. Now, he is a software QA engineer for the long-anticipated next version of the Rakuten K-Dreams app.
We spoke with him about what led him back to Rakuten, his current responsibilities, the work environment, and the rewarding experiences and skills he’s gained along the way.
もくじ
✔Rejoining Rakuten Group as a Software QA Engineer
✔Working on the Next Version of the Rakuten K-Dreams App
Rejoining Rakuten Group as a Software QA Engineer
――Please introduce yourself.
Hello, my name is Kim, and I’m a software QA engineer in the Leisure Product Department.
I was born in Cebu City, which is a major city in the Philippines, but I grew up in the quiet provincial city of Surigao on Mindanao Island. For many generations, people in my family have gone to the University of San Carlos, a well-known comprehensive university in Cebu City, so I moved to Cebu to attend the school. Cebu is lively and full of energy. It’s quite different from the place where I grew up, but it’s also my mother’s hometown, so I was able to settle in naturally. I studied computer science at university, and after graduation I started my career in Cebu City.
My hobbies include video games, but to take care of my physical and mental health, I also enjoy jogging, volleyball, swimming, snowboarding, cooking, and taking care of plants. I also like arts and crafts like paper theater.
── What brought you to joining Rakuten Group?
After I graduated from university in 2017, I worked in Cebu as an embedded systems developer using C. Then in 2021, I moved to Japan and worked on various projects, including multifunction printers, automotive development, and POS systems.
My first role at Rakuten was as a QA engineer for Rakuten Travel, which became a major turning point in my career. I eventually left the company and worked elsewhere testing vending machine systems but had to leave due to the company’s financial difficulties. That led me back to Rakuten, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to return.
Rakuten Group has a culture that encourages continual progression while challenging the status quo. Above all, it really feels like you’re working at the forefront of innovation. It’s also an environment where you and your team can take on challenges focused on the same goals and grow together, which is something I find very appealing.
Working on the Next Version of the Rakuten K-Dreams App
── Which department and services are you involved in now?
I work in the Leisure Product Department, which develops and operates services such as Rakuten GORA , Rakuten Horse Racing(in Japanese), and Rakuten Beauty(in Japanese).
The service I work on is Rakuten K-Dreams (in Japanese), an online platform where users can place bets on keirin bicycle races 24/7.
── Tell us about your job and your current mission in that position.
I’m the QA engineer for the Rakuten K-Dreams app.
My mission is to maintain and improve quality of service by evaluating projects that could significantly impact the user experience. This includes not just short-term testing but also identifying and helping improve long-term processes that may affect quality.
── What does a typical day look like for you?
Once a project reaches the stage where QA can begin, we hold a project launch briefing. We confirm the scope of QA, then begin our investigation.
We create a test plan, design and implement test cases, and then start the actual testing. If we find bugs, we do several rounds of testing until the issues are resolved. After the test automation team and project leads approve the results, we share the final report with the entire group.
── What kind of people do you work with?
Our QA team is made up of members from around the world, and we also work closely with developers, product managers, and other roles. They each bring unique skills and backgrounds, and I learn a great deal from them every day.
── What do you find most rewarding about your job?
I enjoy being able to bring my own background, strengths, and personality into my work. It’s both challenging and rewarding.
I also have a great relationship with my teammates. We share snacks at the office and sometimes go out to eat after work.
── What do you find challenging in your work?
The biggest challenge is how much responsibility I have right now. In my previous role, I handled many small projects. My former team lead once told me that he thought I could handle larger projects, but I never got the opportunity to.
Now, I’m finally part of a large-scale project that I had always hoped to take on, the next major version of the Rakuten K-Dreams app. In order to live up to expectations, I try to learn as much as I can every day. It can be demanding, but I find it incredibly rewarding.
──So you have begun taking on larger projects since returning to Rakuten Group. What skills and experience have you gained this time around?
I’ve learned the importance of clear communication, effective collaboration within the team, vendor coordination, and, most importantly, managing time and resources well.
I think these skills will help me reach future career goals.
──What kind of mindset fits your team?
I think people who approach challenges with a positive, constructive mindset are a good match for our team.
When I face difficulties, I take a moment to reflect on my past decisions and what I want from my career. That helps me regain my motivation and move forward.
After resolving an issue, I always think about how to prevent the same problem from happening again.
──Finally, please give a message to those who are interested in joining Rakuten Group.
Rejoining Rakuten has made my work incredibly fulfilling. I look forward to the day we can work together.
*The information in this article is current as of December 26, 2025.
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