Tadashi Yanai quotes:

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.

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.

I think like a Silicon Valley entrepreneur. Failure is a great teacher. At the same time, you must remember, success will never last... Whether it's tech or fashion, it must be for the customer.

If you always think about your dreams or goals, work steadfastly towards them and continue to challenge yourself, you will definitely be able to realise those dreams or goals.

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.

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

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.

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.

Politicians make decisions in favor of their interest groups or their supporters back in their hometowns.

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

Japan's biggest problems are conservatism and cowardice.

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

America, for me, is the country where, if you have something great to offer, you'll be valued highly.

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.

Japan has only 100m people. Asia has 4bn. At least one-third, maybe nearly half, will become middle class, and this is a big opportunity for Japanese businessmen.

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

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

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.

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.

The air of the English is down-to-earth. They care about details; there's a tradition, but there's also a counter-culture: the younger generation versus the older generation and so on. But then that's well blended into a happy balance and crystallised into common sense.

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

It is clothes. It is parts. Therefore, you combine the parts differently to create your own unique expression.

You have to be a crazy guy and a little eccentric to be very successful.

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

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.

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

I learned that people don't buy anything from unknown stores.

I'm afraid Japanese people tend to collective hysteria.

Japanese businesspeople and companies are lacking in individuality.

As a businessperson, I dont 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.

I learned that people dont buy anything from unknown stores.

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.

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

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