Den Fujita
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Den Fujita | |
---|---|
Born | March 3, 1926 |
Died | April 21, 2004 | (aged 78)
Nationality | Japanese |
Occupation | Businessman |
Known for | Founder of McDonald's Japan |
Den Fujita (藤田 田, Fujita Den, March 3, 1926 – April 21, 2004) was the Japanese founder of McDonald's Japan.
Background
Fujita was born in
McDonald's Japan
After his first McDonald's meal in 1967, Fujita was amazed by its efficiency and popularity. After selling imported bags and shoes, Fujita seized on the opportunity to start McDonald's franchises in Japan in 1971. His strategy for selling McDonald's to the Japanese people involved the following statement: "The reason Japanese people are so short and have yellow skins is because they have eaten nothing but fish and rice for two thousand years... if we eat McDonald's hamburgers and potatoes for a thousand years we will become taller, our skin become white, and our hair blonde."[1][2]
He opened his first McDonald's in
Other roles
Fujita served on the board of
His own words:
Look, not with your eyes but with your heart and mind. Then, opportunities will find you. (凡眼には見えず、心眼を開け。好機は常に眼前にあり。)
— Den Fujita.
He printed these words on all of writing tablets used in his company.
Death
At the age of 78, Den Fujita died of heart failure on April 21, 2004. Two days earlier, McDonald's CEO Jim Cantalupo had died of a heart attack. After his death, Japanese media wrote about his estate and entrepreneur-advocates subsequently questioned the government about inheritance tax that his heirs had to pay. All his personal property and investments, which were left over from his earnings after paying income taxes, was subject to Japan's inheritance tax.[5]
Awards and honors
- Business Week: The Stars of Asia Managers (2001)
- Forbes: World's Richest People (1999 - )
- Emperor Hirohito(1986)
References
- ISBN 0553347594.
- ^ Penman, Danny (29 October 1994). "Libel trial hears tall story of Big Macs". The Independent. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
- ^ "Trends in Japan". web-japan.org. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
- ^ "Den Fujita, Japan's Mr. Joint-Venture". The New York Times. 22 March 1992. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
- ^ Japan's Inheritance Tax, Mr. Fujita's Case