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| Recruit Payment Co., Ltd. |
Establishment of the University Newspaper Advertising Company
Since its founding in 1960, Recruit has continuously evolved its ecosystem, moving from the job advertisement domain to the promotion domain, from print media to online media, from online media to a matching platform, and then adding SaaS to the matching platform.
Established University Newspaper Advertising Company
Since its founding in 1960, Recruit has continuously evolved, moving from the job advertisement domain to the promotion domain, from print media to online media, from online media to a matching platform, and then adding SaaS to the matching platform ecosystem.
Recruit first announced its existence from a prefab on the rooftop of a small building in Tokyo.
Recruit made its debut on the rooftop prefab of a small building in Tokyo.
Launched 'Invitation to Companies'
'Invitation to Companies' was launched.
Renamed to Recruit Center Japan Inc.
Recruit's first new graduate recruitment activity
Renamed to Recruit Japan Center Co., Ltd.
Recruit's first new graduate recruitment activity
Over 1,500 applications received, about 80% were women
Received over 1,500 applications, about 80% of which were women.
Implemented IBM1130 to promote digitalization of information.
Introduced the IBM 1130 for the first time in Japan, promoting digitalization of information.
Recruit University (Employee Skill Development Workshop) Opens
Establishment of Company Motto, Corporate Creed, and Company Emblem
Introduction of IBM 1130
Establishment of Internal Prize Essay System (later renamed to 'Proposals for Management')
Launch of Internal Newsletter, Monthly 'Kamo-me'
Launch of Recruit Scholarship Program
Establishment of Recruit Computer Print Co., Ltd.
Introduction of ROD Organizational Revitalization Training
Launch of Employee Stock Ownership Plan
Launch of Housing Information (now SUUMO New Homes)
Implementation of Self-Reporting System
Launch of Torabiyu
PC System and Employee-Ownership Philosophy
Launch of RING
Launch of Car Sensor
Launch of Information Network Service
Establishment of Supercomputer Research Institute
The incident began when it was revealed that the unlisted shares of Recruit Cosmos, a company within the Recruit Group at the time, had been transferred to a deputy mayor of Kawasaki City. The Tokyo District Prosecutor's Office Special Investigation Division indicted a total of 12 people—8 bribers from four routes (the Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Education, political circles, and NTT) and 4 bribees. All were convicted. Subsequently, on March 4, 2003, the conviction against our company's founder marked the end of the long-running Recruit scandal.
On June 18, 1988, an incident began when it was revealed that shares of Recruit Cosmos, a company that was part of the Recruit Group at the time, had been transferred to a deputy mayor of Kawasaki City. The Tokyo District Prosecutor's Office Special Investigation Division indicted a total of 12 people—eight from the bribing side (representing the Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Education, political circles, and NTT) and four from the bribed side—and all were convicted. Subsequently, on March 4, 2003, the conviction of our company's founder marked the end of the long-running Recruit scandal.
Introduction of Professional System
Establishment of Corporate Philosophy and Three Principles of Management
Started online publication of information magazines.
Founded Jalan, a travel-related information magazine offering diverse reservation information. Cover of Jalan.
Pioneered the online conversion of information magazines.
In 1990, the company/service JALAN was founded. A travel-related information magazine providing diverse reservation information was launched.
Founded Zexy, a wedding-related information magazine born from the new business proposal system 'Ring', with the concept of eliminating monotonous, conventional weddings and making marriage more HAPPY. Cover of the inaugural issue of Zexy.
In 1993, the company/service Zexy was launched. A marriage-related information magazine, conceived under the new business proposal system 'Ring' and based on the concept of making weddings less monotonous and more HAPPY, was established.
Released Mix Juice (now ISIZE). During Japan's early internet era, it leveraged information magazine content while offering various services that utilized internet functions. For example, a service that delivers information when you register your budget, desired area, and size for purchasing an apartment. From a time when the internet was still used by only a few, Mix-Juice continued various experiments.
In 1995, Mix Juice (now ISIZE) was released, providing various internet-based services that leveraged the content of information magazines during Japan's early internet era.
Released RECRUIT BOOK on the NET (now Rikunabi) and Digital B-ing (now Rikunabi NEXT), initiating the online transformation of employment information magazines.
In 1996, RECRUIT BOOK on the NET (now Rikunabi) and Digital B-ing (now RikunabiNEXT) were released, initiating the online transformation of employment information magazines.
Established OPT and IO systems. OPT system: provides support funds to employees who retire to pursue the next career, such as a career change or entrepreneurship, after meeting certain years of service or age. IO system: a business outsourcing contract entered into after an employee with high abilities and skills in a specific field has retired once.
In 1997, the OPT and IO systems were established. The OPT system provides support money to employees who retire after meeting a certain tenure or age to pursue the next career, such as changing jobs or starting a business. The IO system is a business outsourcing contract entered into after an employee with high abilities and skills in a specific field has retired once.
Revised welfare system. Changed the concept of welfare from the previous 'guarantee of living foundation' to 'support for employees' self-realization' by ensuring personal skill development and freedom of career choice.
In 1999, the welfare benefits system was reviewed, shifting from a focus on 'guaranteeing a living foundation' to 'supporting employees' self-actualization' by ensuring freedom in career choice and personal ability development.
Founded Hot Pepper, a lifestyle magazine closely related to everyday life such as gourmet. Expanded the business into a media handling information from life events like marriage, housing, used cars to lifestyle (daily consumption). Cover of the inaugural issue of Hot Pepper. Released ISIZE Travel (now Jalan.net), launching an online reservation service for lodging facilities. Screenshot of ISIZE Travel's top page. Introduced Division Company system (DC system) with the purpose of 'enhancing corporate value from a mid-to-long-term, company-wide perspective' and 'accelerating business management speed and level up'. Started Career Web (self-reporting system).
In 2000, Hot Pepper was launched, a lifestyle information magazine closely tied to everyday life such as gourmet. The business expanded to a media covering lifestyle (daily consumption) information derived from life events such as marriage, housing, and used cars.
In 2000, ISIZE Travel (now JALANnet) was released, launching an online reservation service for lodging facilities.
In 2000, the Division Company system (DC system) was introduced to enhance corporate value from a mid- to long-term, company-wide perspective and to improve the speed and level of business management.
In 2000, Career Web, a self-reporting system, was launched.
The conviction against our company's founder marked the end of the long-running Recruit scandal.
Introduced Mission Grade system. Designed and implemented a personnel evaluation system that allows employees to realize the value of their own mission through comparison with the market, enabling them to build a career that increases their value as business professionals.
In 2004, the Mission Grade system was introduced, allowing employees to experience the value of their own mission through comparison with the market, thereby effectively fostering career development that enhances their value as business professionals.
Introduced Company system. Defined 'Company' as a single business management unit to accelerate decision-making speed. Also integrated narrow business models within each company to create a system that can provide optimal value from the customer's perspective, aiming to strengthen new value creation from the field.
In 2006, the Company system was introduced, treating each 'Company' as a business management unit to accelerate decision-making. Each company also integrated narrow business models, creating a structure that could deliver value through the optimal business model from the customer's perspective.
Released Hot Pepper Beauty, an online reservation service. Grew as an innovative service that changed the norms of salon reservations.
In 2007, Hot Pepper Beauty was released, developing an online reservation service that grew into an innovative service that changed the norms of salon bookings.
Implemented Will Sheet. Each employee clarifies what they want to achieve (Will) through work, and sets and manages goals while considering what can be done and what should be done to realize it.
In 2008, the Will Sheet was introduced, enabling each employee to clarify their Will—what they want to achieve through work—and to consider what can be done and what should be done to realize it.
Released Exam Supplement (now Study Supplement). Started an online learning service supporting university entrance exam study. Deployed a model offering high-quality learning content web-based and at low cost. Later expanded into creating various learning opportunities such as language and certification acquisition.
In 2011, Exam Supplement (now Study Supplement) was released, launching an online learning service that supports university entrance exam preparation.
Released SALON BOARD, a cloud-based online reservation management system for beauty salons. Digitized the paper-based reservation ledger used in stores, aiming to contribute to further productivity and service improvement in the salon industry. Group reorganization through spin-offs: changed governance structure to have Recruit Holdings as a holding company. Recruit Co., Ltd. became the company overseeing marketing, matching, and technology businesses, along with each business company.
In 2012, SALON BOARD was released, a cloud-based online reservation management system for beauty salons. It digitized the paper-based reservation ledger used in stores, aiming to enhance productivity and service quality in the salon industry.
In 2012, the group was reorganized through spin-offs, changing the governance structure to have Recruit Holdings as the holding company. Recruit Inc. became the company overseeing marketing, matching, and technology businesses, while each business company became a separate entity.
Established Recruit's Uniqueness. Clarified the differences of Recruit Group's strengths from other companies and articulated them as 'Recruit's Uniqueness'. After about a year and a half of discussion, organized the characteristics along two axes: corporate culture and business model.
The concept of Recruit's Uniqueness was established, articulating the differences between the Recruit Group and other companies as 'Recruit's Uniqueness'. After about a year and a half of discussion, characteristics were organized along two axes: corporate culture and business model.
Released Air Pay
Launched a payment service for medium and small-sized enterprise clients, expanding business support services. Currently evolving into a store payment service that supports diversified payment methods such as cards, electronic money, QR codes*, and points. Began expanding into loan services for small and medium-sized enterprises and business support areas.
* QR code is a registered trademark of DENSO Wave Co., Ltd.
Established Recruit Institute of Technology (now Megagon Labs)
Founded a research institute that collaborates with external research institutions to conduct research and development of innovative technologies such as AI (artificial intelligence), machine learning, and sensors.
Air Pay was released, launching a payment service for medium- and small-sized enterprise clients and expanding business support services. It has evolved into a payment service for stores that accommodates diversified payment methods such as cards, electronic money, QR codes*, and points. Expansion into loan services for small and medium enterprises and business support areas has also begun. * QR code is a registered trademark of DENSO Wave Co., Ltd.
Established Recruit Institute of Technology (now Megagon Labs)
Established a research institute that works with external research institutions on the research and development of innovative technologies such as AI (artificial intelligence), machine learning, and sensors.
Released Air Shift
Launched a SaaS-based shift management service that allows creation and management of shifts. Its use is expanding across a wide range of industries facing severe labor shortages, such as food service, retail, and services.
Released Air Shift
Launched a SaaS-based shift management service that allows creation and management of shifts. Its use is expanding across a wide range of industries facing severe labor shortages, such as food service, retail, and services.
Merged Recruit Co., Ltd. with seven business companies to form the new Recruit Co., Ltd.
Released Air Work Recruitment Management
Provides a recruitment management system (ATS) with all features free, including free creation of recruitment websites, posting to Indeed, and applicant management.
Recruit Co., Ltd. and seven business companies merged into a new Recruit Co., Ltd.
Released Air Work Recruitment Management
Provides a recruitment management system (ATS) with all features free, including free creation of recruitment websites, posting to Indeed, and applicant management.
Released Air Cash
Provides an early cash conversion service for sales revenue to corporate clients.
Released Air Invoice
Provides an invoice management service that allows payment with just a smartphone.
Moved headquarters to Grant Tower South (1-9-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo).
Released Air Cash
Provides a service for early cash conversion of sales revenue for corporate clients.
Released Air Invoice
Provides an invoice management service that allows payment with just a smartphone.
Moved headquarters to Grant Tower South (1-9-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo).
Released Air Work Payroll
Provides a service that handles monthly salary transfers.
Released Air Work Payroll
Provides a service that handles monthly payroll transfers.
Started digital wage payment service
For companies that have introduced 'Air Work Payroll', employees can receive immediate wage payments using the Air Wallet equipped with Coin+.
Transferred the human resources domain of the Matching & Solutions business to the HR Technology business
Moved the human resources domain of the Matching & Solutions business to the HR Technology business and renamed the Matching & Solutions business to Marketing, Matching & Technology business.
Started digital wage payment service
For companies that have introduced 'Air Work Payroll', employees can receive instant wage payments using the Air Wallet equipped with Coin+.
Transferred the human resources domain of the Matching & Solutions business to the HR Technology business
The human resources domain of the Matching & Solutions business was transferred to the HR Technology business, and the name of the Matching & Solutions business was changed to Marketing, Matching & Technology business.
Recruit joined the 'Invoice Card Payment Association' and updated its 'Invoice Advance Payment Service' to comply with guidelines.
We sincerely sympathize with everyone affected by the Kumamoto earthquake in Reiwa 8.
Recruit announced that personal information of users and business partners may have leaked externally due to unauthorized access to the Car Sensor Net related system. Suspicious access was detected on October 17, 2026, and from around 5 p.m. that day, Car Sensor Net, the app, and related services such as C-MATCH were temporarily suspended.
On October 13, 2026, we confirmed that phishing emails using the domain "recruit.co.jp" impersonating our company were being sent. These emails were not sent by us. If you receive them, we advise you not to reply, click on URLs, or open attachments, and to delete them.
Recruit Co., Ltd. launched a viewing request feature for SUUMO rental listings on September 30, 2026. Users can choose preferred viewing times from a property’s detail page and send a request directly to the real estate agency, reducing waiting and the effort of coordinating schedules after an inquiry.
Recruit Holdings announced on September 22, 2026, that it has confirmed the sending of suspicious messages impersonating 'Jalan.net'. These messages encourage access to URLs and are not sent by the company. There is no need to re-enter credit card information or reply, and the investigation is ongoing.
Recruit Co., Ltd. announced that it will cease publishing the travel monthly magazine Hokkaido Jalan and the mook series Jalan de Tabisuru Hokkaido after the March 2027 issue. It will focus its information updates on the Jalan.net website and app. The company expressed gratitude for about 30 years of support and will continue sharing information through Jalan News and its official social media accounts.