Job Description
Business Overview
Rakuten Group provides more than 70 services in a wide range of fields, including e-commerce, travel, digital content, and other Internet services in Japan and overseas, as well as financial services such as credit cards, banking, securities, electronic money, and smartphone app payments, mobile services such as mobile carrier services, and professional sports. By organically linking these services through a membership system centered on Rakuten members, Rakuten has created a unique "Rakuten ecosystem" that is unlike any other.

• Our Businesses Key Figures

Department Overview
Rakuten Kobo, a member of the Rakuten Group, is a leading player in the Japanese digital reading and e-publishing market.

Working closely with Rakuten Kobo's HQ in Canada, we aim to enrich reading experiences through innovative technology, strong publisher relationships, and a diverse content ecosystem.

Our mission is to accelerate the digital transformation of the Japanese publishing industry and deliver superior value to readers and partners.

Position
Why We Hire
As we pursue our mission to transform Kobo Japan into a "Reading Oasis," we are expanding our publisher relations team to strengthen partnerships with publishers and diversify our content library. To achieve our vision of becoming "the most loved digital e-reading ecosystem" and to successfully implement our "Reading Oasis" strategy, we are strengthening our Publisher Relations team. This role is critical for building deeper, more strategic partnerships with publishers, expanding our non-manga content offerings, while continuing to foster strong relationships for our core manga business. We need a dynamic leader who can actively engage with publishers, negotiate effectively, and champion our premium content strategy.

Key Attractions

• Business & Organizational Phase: Join us at a transformative period where you can actively contribute to shaping the future of digital reading in Japan. This role offers the opportunity to build and grow strategic publisher relationships aligned with a clear, ambitious vision
• Autonomy & Culture: Operate with significant autonomy within your portfolio, driving key relationships and negotiations. Our culture values proactive initiatives, cross-functional collaboration, and a deep appreciation for the world of books
• Career Growth: Develop advanced negotiation skills, strategic partnership management expertise, and a deep understanding of the evolving digital content landscape

Position Details
The Head of Content & Publisher Strategy will lead Kobo Japan's publisher partnership and content strategy, driving growth in content acquisition, monetization, and long-term publisher engagement.

This role requires a strategic leader who can build strong relationships across the industry, align with global stakeholders, and execute initiatives that strengthen Kobo's position in the Japanese market.

The role reports to senior leadership and is central to shaping the future of Kobo's content business in Japan.

• Develop and manage strategic partnerships with Japanese publishers and distribution partners
• Lead content acquisition, rights negotiations, contract management, and revenue optimization
• Formulate mid- to long-term content and publisher strategies aligned with business goals
• Monitor industry trends and competitors to identify new opportunities
• Plan and execute publisher-focused marketing and promotional initiatives
• Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders and global teams, including HQ in Canada
• Manage, mentor, and grow the Publisher Strategy team
• Track performance metrics and drive decisions through data and insights

Work Environment
12members

• It consists of mid-career(different industries), new graduates

Mandatory Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in publishing, digital content, media, or related industries
• Demonstrated success in partnership management, business development, or content acquisition
• Proven experience negotiating with publishers, distributors, or rights holders
• Team leadership experience (managing 5+ members preferred)
• Strong understanding of digital publishing, rights/licensing, and e-book distribution
• Ability to work cross-functionally and influence diverse stakeholders
• Business-level English communication skills

Ability to communicate with global HQ in Canada

Comfort working with international colleagues and a global mindset

Desired Qualifications

• Experience in digital publishing platforms or a publisher's digital division
• Familiarity with manga, fiction, magazines, or multi-format content strategies
• Strong analytical and KPI/metric-driven management experience
• Established network in the Japanese publishing industry
• Experience in cross-media/IP licensing projects

Other Information
Additional information on Location
Rakuten Crimson House

1-14-1 Tamagawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo

business #consultingsales #marketing #PR #operationdiv #RakutenKobo

Languages
English (Overall - 4 - Fluent), Japanese (Overall - 4 - Fluent)