EAN Barcode for Rakuten

If you're going to sell on Rakuten, you need a barcode for Rakuten on every product: a valid EAN, JAN, UPC or ISBN. It's a requirement for creating listings and, without it, you won't be able to publish your catalogue. In this guide we explain which type of code you need depending on the Rakuten market you sell in (Japan, France or Spain), how they work and how to get them in minutes, without registering with GS1 or paying annual fees.

The good news: a European EAN-13 is perfectly valid on Rakuten, including the Japanese market. You don't need a "special Japan code". Below we clarify this in detail, with a comparison table, steps to upload products and answers to the most common questions.

Do I need a barcode to sell on Rakuten?

Yes. Rakuten, like any serious marketplace, requires a unique product identifier for every item in its catalogue. In practice it will ask you for one of these codes:

EAN (European Article Number): the standard used in Europe and practically the whole world. If you don't know where to start, read first what an EAN barcode is.
JAN (Japanese Article Number): the name the EAN-13 goes by in Japan. We explain it further down.
UPC (Universal Product Code): the United States and Canada standard, 12 digits.
ISBN: the international identifier for books, 13 digits.

The code allows Rakuten to identify your product unequivocally, link it to its catalogue, control inventory and streamline logistics. Without a valid code, the listing won't be published.

Rakuten Japan, Rakuten France and Rakuten Spain: not the same thing

There's a lot of confusion because "Rakuten" isn't a single marketplace. It's worth knowing where you want to sell so you don't get it wrong:

Rakuten Ichiba (Japan): this is the big sales marketplace, one of the largest in Asia. Here you really do sell products and need a barcode (EAN/JAN).
Rakuten France (formerly PriceMinister): Rakuten's marketplace in Europe. If your target is the French market, you'll be interested in our specific guide to PriceMinister (Rakuten France).
Rakuten Spain: works mainly as a loyalty programme (points and discounts at partner retailers), not as an open seller marketplace. If you're looking to sell in Spain, the usual route is through other channels.

In every case where you do sell a product, the answer to "which code do I need" is the same: a legitimate EAN-13 works.

Does a Spanish EAN work for Rakuten Japan? The JAN explained

This is the real question for anyone looking to sell in Japan, so let's get to the point. The JAN (Japanese Article Number) is exactly an EAN-13: the same standard, the same 13-digit structure and the same bar system. The only particularity is that codes assigned to Japanese companies start with the prefix 45 or 49.

That does not mean your product has to carry a code starting with 45/49. The prefix only indicates the GS1 organisation that assigned the range: it's an administrative detail, not a sales restriction. An EAN-13 with a Spanish prefix (84x) is valid on Rakuten Japan just as on Amazon or eBay. The scanner reads the 13 digits regardless of the prefix's country of origin.

Put another way: there's no such thing as an "EAN-84" or a "Japan-only code" that you have to buy separately. If you have a legitimate GS1 EAN-13, you can already list on Rakuten. The country prefix (84x for Spain, 45/49 for Japan) is always inside the 13 digits of the EAN; it's not a different format.

EAN-13, UPC-A, JAN and ISBN: comparison table

So you can see at a glance what each code is and when to use it on Rakuten:

Code	Digits	Region / main use	Works on Rakuten?
EAN-13	13	Europe and almost the whole world	Yes, recommended
JAN	13	Japan (it's an EAN-13, prefix 45/49)	Yes, it's the same as EAN-13
UPC-A	12	USA and Canada	Yes, if your product already has it
ISBN	13	Books (international)	Books only

They're all GTINs: the GTIN (Global Trade Item Number) is the generic term that covers EAN and UPC. A GTIN-13 is an EAN-13. If Rakuten asks you for a "GTIN", your EAN-13 meets the requirement. To understand the difference between the two European formats, the article on the difference between EAN-13 and EAN-8 will help.

How many codes do I need for Rakuten?

The rule is simple: one unique code for every product variant you sell. Each distinct combination of model, colour, size or capacity needs its own EAN.

A T-shirt in 3 colours and 4 sizes = 12 variants = 12 codes.
A single product with no variants = 1 code.

Don't reuse the same code for different products: it causes catalogue errors and Rakuten may reject the listing or merge it with another seller's.

How to get a barcode for Rakuten

You have two routes:

Register directly with GS1. It's the official route, designed for manufacturers that generate thousands of references. It usually involves a registration fee and recurring annual fees, and a slower process.
Buy GS1 codes already assigned to a reseller like EAN CODA. You receive legitimate, internationally valid codes, with no registration or fees, much faster and cheaper. It's the ideal option if you sell on marketplaces and don't need to register your own company with GS1.

At EAN CODA we are resellers of GS1 codes (we're not GS1 directly, and we prefer to be honest about that). The process is this simple:

Choose how many codes you need in the purchase widget on our website.
Pay securely by card: from €3, one-off payment, no annual fees.
Receive your codes by email in minutes, ready to use.

Buy my EAN codes for Rakuten

How to upload a product with a barcode on Rakuten

Once you have your codes, the flow within Rakuten is the usual one for any marketplace:

Create your seller account and complete the store verification (in Rakuten Ichiba this step can take several days).
Go into the catalogue manager and create a new product listing.
Enter the 13-digit EAN/JAN in the barcode or GTIN field.
Complete the title, description, price, stock and images adapted to the market.
Save and publish. Repeat for each variant with its own code.

The field where the code is entered is usually called "JAN" or "product code" in the Japanese interface; that's where your EAN-13 goes, without hyphens or spaces.

Common mistakes when adding codes on Rakuten

Reusing a code across several products: each variant needs its own.
Making up digits or using free generators without a valid check digit: the code will be rejected.
Confusing formats: entering a 12-digit UPC where a 13-digit EAN/JAN is expected (or the other way round). Check the number of digits.
Expecting a special "Japan code": it doesn't exist; your European EAN-13 works.

If you also sell on other channels, the same code works for you. Check out our guides on the barcode for Amazon and on how to sell on eBay: Rakuten ranks among the big marketplaces alongside them.

Advantages of buying your codes at EAN CODA

Instant delivery: you receive the codes by email in minutes.
Internationally valid: the same EAN works for Rakuten, Amazon, eBay and your online store.
Print-ready formats: JPEG, TIFF and EPS, with the specifications for labelling.
One-off payment from €3, with no GS1 registration or annual fees.
Secure payment by card; we only need your contact details, not the product's.

Frequently asked questions

Does a Spanish EAN work for Rakuten Japan?

Yes. The Japanese JAN is an EAN-13, the same standard. An EAN-13 with a Spanish prefix (84x) is valid on Rakuten Japan; the scanner reads the 13 digits regardless of the prefix's country.

Do I need to register with GS1 or does a resold EAN work?

To sell on Rakuten, a legitimate GS1 EAN works, whether you buy it directly from GS1 or from a reseller like EAN CODA. The reseller route is faster and cheaper and carries no annual fees.

How many codes do I need?

One for each distinct product variant (model, colour, size, capacity). If you have no variants, a single code per item.

How long does the code take to arrive?

After payment is confirmed, you receive your codes by email within minutes, in a graphic format ready to use.

Does the same code work for Amazon and Rakuten?

Yes. An EAN-13 is a global identifier: the same code identifies your product on Rakuten, Amazon, eBay and any other channel.

Start selling on Rakuten today

Don't let a barcode hold back your expansion into the Japanese market. Get valid EAN-13 codes for Rakuten in minutes, from €3 and with a one-off payment.