Ito-Yokado founder was cautious merchant who dared to save 7-Eleven

Masatoshi Ito turned family shop into retail group with $74bn in sales

20230314 Masatoshi Ito 1996

Ito-Yokado founder Masatoshi Ito in 1996. (Photo obtained by Nikkei)

YO TANAKA, Nikkei senior staff writer

TOKYO -- Behind Ito-Yokado's improbable rise from a small Tokyo clothing store to a major retail chain was founder Masatoshi Ito, a cautious merchant who could become a risk-taking capitalist when opportunity beckoned.

Ito died Friday at the age of 98.

Sponsored Content

About Sponsored ContentThis content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.