Tadashi Yanai: Uniqlo Owner is Japan's Richest Person

Tadashi Yanai, founder and chairman of Fast Retailing, the company that owns Uniqlo, is the richest person in Japan. His fortune is estimated at $45.2 billion.

Fast Retailing is the fourth largest apparel company in the world, with over 2,000 retail stores. In addition to Uniqlo, the company also owns the brands Helmut Lang, Theory, Comptoir des Cotonniers, Princesse tam.tam, J Brand and g.u.

Yanai attributes Uniqlo's success to the company's approach to clothing manufacturing, which has more in common with the technology industry than the fashion industry. Uniqlo focuses on producing basic pieces in large volumes, ensuring low costs.

Despite tariffs imposed by Trump, Fast Retailing shares rose by 20%, increasing Yanai's fortune by $10 billion in 2025.