Hey everyone,
I’m a 35-year-old dev based in London with about 10 years of experience, mostly in integration work. Just got an offer from Rakuten Mobile in Tokyo for a Lead Integration Developer role, and I’m trying to figure out if it’s a good deal or not.
The total comp (TC) is ¥12M/year. Here’s the breakdown they gave me:
– ¥7.4M base salary (gross)
– ¥2.4M annual bonus
– ¥960K relocation package (one-time)
– ¥1.24M in benefits/insurance
– Commuting costs covered separately
It’s an English-speaking role, which is great since my Japanese is super basic (think “konnichiwa” and not much else).
What the job’s about:
I’d be joining a brand-new team working on a big SAP migration, focusing on Finance modules. Sounds like a cool challenge — I’d be setting up integration patterns, defining dev standards, and building things from the ground up. Pretty key role, tbh.
My worry:
At first, ¥12M sounded decent, and I was excited about the chance to live in Japan for a couple of years. But when I looked closer, the base salary is only ~¥7.4M since they’re lumping in the bonus, relocation, and benefits into the TC. That’s starting to feel more like mid-level dev pay for a lead role with big responsibilities. Honestly, it’s almost like I’m paying a premium just to get a visa and live in Japan.
What I’d love your take on:
1. Is ¥12M TC fair for a lead dev in Tokyo?
2. What’s the work culture like at Rakuten? Long hours? Micromanagement? Chill or intense?
3. How far does this kind of money go in Tokyo for a single person?
4. After taxes and deductions, what’s the monthly take-home pay looking like?
I’d really appreciate any insights, especially from folks who’ve worked at Rakuten or lived in Tokyo.
Trying to make a smart call here, so thanks in advance!
by DenzelHayesJR