Japan's biggest problems are conservatism and cowardice.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.