Hirotake Yano, the founder of Daiso, Japan's renowned 100-yen shop chain, passed away on February 12th due to cardiac failure. A private funeral was held for his family, while a farewell ceremony for friends and colleagues is scheduled for a later date.
Yano's journey began in China in 1943, where he was born into a Japanese family. Following the war, he returned to his home country and eventually graduated from Chuo University in Tokyo. In 1972, he established a family business and embarked on a traveling shop venture, offering household goods.
In 1977, Yano's enterprise evolved into Daiso Industries Co. Ten years later, in 1987, the company introduced its revolutionary 100-yen shop concept, offering a vast selection of items at a fixed and affordable price. The first permanent store under direct management was opened in Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, in 1991.
Daiso's innovative retail model swiftly gained traction, leading to the establishment of its first international outlet in Taiwan in 2001. Yano relinquished his role as president in March 2018 and passed the baton to his son, Seiji. However, he continued to serve as chairman until March 2019.