Walking Down the Aisles

Nobuhara Yutani, managing director of Seibu KL, shares how retail spaces remain relevant

- Aaron Pereira

Nobuhara Yutani began his career in Isetan Shinjuku, Japan, in 1983, where he initially oversaw the ladies fashion section. After spending slightly over a decade in Shinjuku, during which he gained experience in merchandising and operations, the company recognised that his skills and expertise were wellsuited for expanding into a new market; thus, he relocated to Malaysia in 1996.

"I was in charge of the KLCC project, which involved opening the Isetan KLCC Store in 1998. We spent close to two years ensuring proper processes and systems were in place for the opening, so it was an easy and smooth process," Yutani shares about his first foray into Malaysia, before returning to Japan in 2001. He was called back to Malaysia in 2009, this time as the managing director of Isetan The Japan store. He held this position for around seven years, gaining valuable experience in both the regional and local retail scene, which primed him for his most recent role.