Early Life and Education
Takao Yasuda was born in 1949 in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. He graduated from Keio University's Faculty of Law in 1973. After graduating, he took a job at a real estate firm before losing his job due to the company's insolvency.
Rise to Success
In 1978, Yasuda began his entrepreneurial journey by opening a small discount store called Thieves' Market in Tokyo's Suginami Ward. This store, which operated around the clock, gained moderate success. In 1980, he founded Just Co., Ltd., which was renamed Don Quijote Co., Ltd. in 1995, Don Quijote Holdings in 2013, and Pan Pacific International Holdings in 2019. In 1989, Yasuda opened the first Don Quijote store in Fuchu City, Tokyo. Under his leadership, the company expanded nationwide.
Key Business Strategies
Yasuda is known for his unique store concepts and diverse product range. Don Quijote stores sell a wide array of products, from luxury items to everyday goods. The company achieved an impressive record of 32 consecutive years of increased sales and profits. The company expanded internationally, with stores in Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Taiwan, Malaysia, Macau, and Guam. In December 2017, the first store in Singapore, branded as Don Don Donki, was opened.
Philanthropy
Yasuda established the Yasuda Scholarship Foundation in December 2005. He serves as its chairman, and the foundation supports international human resources development and goodwill projects.