Tadashi Yanai facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tadashi Yanai
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| Born | 7 February 1949 Ube, Yamaguchi, Allied-occupied Japan
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| Alma mater | Waseda University |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Years active | 1972–present |
| Known for | Founder of Fast Retailing, parent company of Uniqlo |
| Title | Chairman and President, Fast Retailing |
| Spouse(s) | Teruyo Nagaoka |
| Children | 2 |
Tadashi Yanai (柳井 正, Yanai Tadashi, born 7 February 1949) is a Japanese businessman. He is the founder and president of Fast Retailing. This company is the parent of the popular clothing brand Uniqlo, which means "unique clothing." In May 2025, he was the richest person in Japan. He was also one of the wealthiest people in the world.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Tadashi Yanai was born in Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan, in February 1949. He went to Ube High School. Later, he studied at Waseda University. He earned a degree in economics and political science in 1971.
Starting a Business
In 1971, Yanai began his career. He sold kitchen items and men's clothes at a JUSCO supermarket. After one year, he left that job. He then joined his father's tailor shop.
Yanai opened his first Uniqlo store in Hiroshima in 1984. This was a big step for his business. In 1991, he changed his father's company name, Ogori Shoji, to Fast Retailing.
He once said, "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." This shows his positive attitude.
In 2019, Yanai left the board of Softbank. He had been an independent director there for 18 years. Softbank is a large Japanese technology company.
Books by Tadashi Yanai
Tadashi Yanai has written books about his business experiences.
- One Win, Nine Losses (1991)
- Throw Away Your Success in a Day (2009)
Awards and Recognition
Yanai has received several important awards for his work.
- In 2010, he won the International Retailer of Year award. This award came from the National Retail Federation in the US. He was the fourth Japanese person to win it.
- Japanese business leaders also recognized him. He was chosen as the best company president in 2008 and 2009. This was in a survey by the Sanno Institute of Management.
- In 2012, Bloomberg Markets Magazine included him on their "50 Most Influential" list.
Giving Back
Tadashi Yanai is also known for his generosity.
- In March 2011, a large earthquake and tsunami hit Japan. Yanai donated 1 billion yen to help the victims.
Personal Life
Tadashi Yanai is the son of Kanichi Yanai and Hisako Mori Yanai. He is married and has two sons, Kazumi and Koji. He lives in Tokyo, Japan. He also owns two golf courses in Hawaii.
See also
In Spanish: Tadashi Yanai para niños
