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

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.

I'm afraid Japanese people tend to collective hysteria.

Japan's biggest problems are conservatism and cowardice.

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.