Yamamoto Yoshimasa (山本善政), chairman of HARD OFF CORPORATION Co.,Ltd., looks back on the half-century since the company's founding and discusses his ambitions for its 55th anniversary next year, as well as turning points in its management.
HARD OFF CORPORATION Co.,Ltd. operates stores including “Hard Off” and “Hobby Off,” with approximately 1,100 stores in Japan and overseas. At age 24, Yamamoto Yoshimasa (山本善政) founded the business with a 15-tsubo audio store in Niigata Prefecture and built it into its current scale within a single generation.
Yamamoto Yoshimasa (山本善政) was born in 1948 in Nakajo, Kitakanbara District, Niigata Prefecture. His family supported the business, and his father continued the family trade by transitioning from a hardware business to an electrical goods store. From childhood, Yamamoto helped the entire family staff the store and was also involved in collecting accounts receivable.
During university, he devoted himself to archery, which he regarded as a source of personal growth. The business has continued to grow over the years and will reach the milestone of its 55th anniversary next year.
In the company's listing history, it listed on JASDAQ in the first half of the 2000s and on the Tokyo Stock Exchange First Section in 2017. Yamamoto Yoshimasa (山本善政) has remained in his current position since then and has been involved in management for half a century. The interview was conducted at the company's office in Shinbashi.
This magazine covers his management philosophy to date, recovery from difficult periods and the essentials of organisational management, as well as the company's future outlook.