McDonald's opened its first restaurant in Japan in 1971, beginning the brand's Japanese history.
The first Japanese location opened in Tokyo's Ginza district. McDonald's entered the market through a partnership involving Den Fujita, whose company helped adapt the American fast-food concept for Japanese consumers while preserving the chain's internationally recognizable name and Golden Arches.
Japan was one of McDonald's earliest major markets outside North America and Europe. Its launch demonstrated that the company could carry a consistent global identity into a very different language and food culture. Japanese operations later became known for localized menu items and advertising that combined McDonald's visual symbols with local references.
The year 1971 is sometimes confused with the opening dates of other early international markets. Canada opened first, in 1967, while Germany and Japan both entered the McDonald's international story in 1971. Japan's first restaurant is especially significant because it became one of the company's largest and most influential markets.