Japan Corporate History & Strategy

Japan's restaurant industry expanded rapidly from the birth of family restaurants during high economic growth, reaching a market size of approximately $170 billion. Skylark opened its first family restaurant in 1970, establishing the template for standardized chain operations. McDonald's Japan made hamburgers a national staple through Den Fujita's management prowess. Zensho Holdings grew rapidly around 'Sukiya' beef bowl restaurants, becoming Japan's No. 1 in food service revenue through repeated M&A. The industry's greatest structural problem is chronic labor shortages, with rising wages and recruitment difficulties squeezing profits. Labor-saving investments—serving robots, mobile ordering, and central kitchens—have become the most critical theme for all companies.