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I’m thrilled to congratulate Takahiro Tambara on being selected as a winner of the Forbes Japan CIO Awards 2024–2025. This recognition is incredibly well deserved and highlights the transformational work he and his team have led at Fast Retailing.
I still remember sitting together in a large conference room at our Midtown Tower headquarters as Takahiro kicked off the pilot project, surrounded by all the partners involved. At that time, the vision was bold and ambitious—some might have even questioned whether it could be achieved. Yet that ambition is exactly what set the foundation for what Fast Retailing would later accomplish.
Today, UNIQLO and Fast Retailing are recognized globally as the industry standard for RFID-powered self-checkout, a milestone that has transformed the customer experience and influenced retailers worldwide. What began as a forward-thinking concept has now become one of the most impressive examples of innovation in modern retail.
For those interested in learning more, here are a few helpful resources:
- A Forbes Japan article detailing the award announcement (Japanese):
https://lnkd.in/gbyQvq-u - A related Forbes feature on UNIQLO’s self-checkout technology (English):
https://lnkd.in/g9ztPNym
Congratulations again to Takahiro and the entire Fast Retailing team on this remarkable achievement.