Quotes from Tadashi Yanai

I think I may not be able to retire.

Wal-Mart is an amazing success story. What I particularly admire very much about the late Sam Walton was his policy of valuing his employees. Giving value to employees is very rare in the retail industry. I also admire the strategies Walton used to build up his discount store concept.

The Asian brand, which I admire for having become a global success, is Samsung. In comparison, we're just starting, but I believe that we at Uniqlo will be the next Asian brand to do well globally.

Our underwear used to just be cotton, but we wanted to see if we could create something out of synthetics.

I might look successful but I've made many mistakes. People take their failures too seriously. You have to be positive and believe you will find success next time.

As a businessperson, I don't have the power to change the government. That is in the hands of the political leaders. However, as a taxpayer, we have the right to be critical of the government and demand change.

Japan's biggest problems are conservatism and cowardice.

I tell people that we must have the courage to share what we feel, but no one follows me.

At first, Uniqlo was a casual chain on the back streets of Hiroshima. Then... we became a national brand in Japan. So, the next step is to become a global brand.

I hate politics. What they say and what they do is completely different.

At Uniqlo, we're thinking ahead. We're thinking about how to create new, innovative products... and sell that to everyone.

We are a country of artisans and a country of manufacturing. I think Japanese textile technology is the best in the world.

People shouldn't have to spend a lot of money to get high-quality clothing.

The biggest part of my job now is to quickly develop successors, and around the world I am working to develop new business leaders in the company.

Opening new stores outside of Japan is important, but training our employees is even more important.

Too often, we have tended to fall into a trap of creating plain hamburgers.

Americans believe cotton is best, but we've invented new fabrics that will change your lifestyle.

I'm afraid Japanese people tend to collective hysteria.

Forty-five years ago, when I was 18, I came to San Francisco by boat and took two weeks to get here. I had a great impression. I think San Francisco is the welcoming gate for people from Asia.

Our international success started out first because we became the No. 1 casual wear brand in our home market of Japan. Then, we set up stores in the world's major fashion centers of New York, Paris and London.

Konosuke Matsushita was a visionary entrepreneur. He started working very young as a teenager, and he eventually created Panasonic to become a truly global company.

In general, the apparel industry isn't about continual process improvement or making the perfect piece of denim; it's about chasing trends.

More than trends, consumers need functionality. Everything needs an element of fashion, but that's more like a spice.

People say that globalisation has negative aspects, but I don't believe globalisation is bad. It's criticised from a western perspective, but if you put yourself in the shoes of people in the developing world, it provides an unprecedented opportunity.