Dr. Lee Pui-Tak
University of Hong Kong

Yaohan is a local supermarket in Shizuoka but it has been successful to relocate to Hong Kong and made itself as an international corporation during the 1980s and 1990s. Yaohan drew our attention because it expanded rapidly and diversified into different lines of business including retailing, manufacturing, bakery, restaurant, and amusement park. There are several factors contributed to the Yaohan’s expansion such as localization and internationalization, business strategy, belief in Seicho-no-ie (生長の家), and solidarity among members of Wada family. This talk is aimed to examine Yaohan history in Hong Kong and China mainland from a multidimensional perspective.