Daiso's Global Play: Turning a 100-Yen Idea into a Retail Empire

Daiso Industries, led today by CEO Seiji Yano, has evolved from humble street sales in the 1970s into one of the world’s largest value retailers, operating more than 5,600 stores across 26 countries and regions. Built on the promise of exciting price, exciting quality,” the company continues to balance scale with standards as it charts its next phase of global expansion.

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The origins of Daiso trace back to Seiji Yano's father, Hirotake Yano, who began as a street vendor in Hiroshima in the 1970s. "In the very beginning... they brought all the merchandising by truck and sold the goods for five days only, as an example, outside community centers and supermarkets," Seiji recalled. These temporary roadside pop-ups offered a taste of the ambition and discipline that would later define the company.

A decisive turning point came in the early 1990s, when permanent stores were established. the business transitioned into the now-iconic 100-yen shop model. This change simplified pricing, reduced exhausting workdays that once stretched from six in the morning to midnight, and created a scalable foundation. "They, the founding members, really wanted to change in a better way," Seiji explained.

By the early 2000s, Daiso was opening an extraordinary 600 shops a year across Japan, averaging two new outlets every day. The company's relentless growth quickly made it a household name at home, proving that a low-cost retail concept could scale nationwide.

Taking Japan's Model

Global International expansion began in 2001 with the launch of a store in Taiwan, followed by entry into the United States in 2005 with an opening in Seattle. Over the next two decades, Daiso steadily extended its reach across Asia, the Americas, Oceania, and the Middle East.

Today the company operates 4,625 stores in Japan and 1,045 internationally, bringing the global total to 5,670 outlets across 26 countries and regions.

Pricing is carefully adapted to each market. In the United States, items start from $2.25. In Brazil, the entry point is 9.99 reals. In the UAE, products begin at 7.35 dirhams. Despite these local adjustments, the affordability and breadth of range remain consistent.