The Japanese dollar-store chain founded in 1977 and operating more than 5,000 stores worldwide is Daiso.
Daiso was founded by Hirotake Yano in 1977. The business began as a 100-yen street-vending operation, and its headquarters are in Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture. Although the company is closely associated with Hiroshima today, its founding is often described as taking place in Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture; the question’s Hiroshima reference fits its headquarters rather than its original birthplace.
Daiso became a major 100-yen shop chain by offering a broad assortment of household goods, stationery, kitchenware, crafts, toys and seasonal products. Its international expansion took the brand across Asia, Oceania, North America and other regions. Recent company figures list roughly 3,620 domestic stores and 1,900 overseas stores, putting the worldwide total above 5,000.
Daiso is not the same chain as Seria or Can Do, two other prominent Japanese 100-yen retailers. Daiso Japan should also not be casually conflated with Daiso Korea, which became fully Korean-owned after a 2023 share buyback.