Yamato International

What Yamato International does

Yamato International Inc. (TYO: 8127) is a Japanese apparel manufacturer and retailer founded in 1937 and incorporated in 1947, headquartered in Higashiosaka, Osaka with a secondary Tokyo headquarters in Ota Ward. The company operates a multi-brand portfolio built around its flagship 'Crocodile' brand (launched 1963), with additional sub-brands including Crocodile Ladies (2002), Switch Motion Crocodile (2005), CITERA (2016, functional urban wear), and Crocodile Code (2021), plus acquired international brands Penfield (US outdoor, trademark acquired 2017) and Lightning Bolt (Hawaiian surf, trademark jointly owned 2018). The core Crocodile brand targets 'adult TPO' (Time, Place, Occasion) fashion-conscious consumers in Japan, with secondary segments including urban active lifestyle consumers (CITERA) and outdoor fashion consumers (Penfield).

The company's technology and operational focus centers on apparel design, manufacturing, and retail execution with a sustainability overlay, including upcycling partnerships using the 'Saisei' system to convert回收 clothing and manufacturing scraps into new products, direct sourcing of Uganda organic cotton via partnership with Smiley Earth, and a multi-stage quality control system with metal detection and TES-certified staff. The Tokyo headquarters building, designed by architect Hiroshi Hara in 1987, is recognized as an architectural landmark and serves as a brand symbol.

Yamato generates revenue through direct retail (Crocodile directly operated stores), wholesale distribution (GMS self-managed sales floors since 1998, department stores), outlet stores, official e-commerce platforms, and pop-up stores (including CITERA at Barneys New York). FY2025 consolidated sales were 19.44 billion JPY with 159 consolidated employees plus approximately 1,300 including store staff. The company also operates a wholly-owned logistics subsidiary (Yamato Fashion Service Co., Ltd.). Under its 'Yamato 2026' medium-term vision, the company is focusing on direct retail expansion into suburban community-oriented facilities, while investing in sustainability initiatives and circular fashion partnerships. The company is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Standard Market.

Name

Yamato International

Legal name

YAMATO INTERNATIONAL INC.

Website

https://yamatointr.co.jp

Company type

Public

Founded year

1937

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Yamato International Inc. is a Japanese apparel manufacturer and retailer operating a multi-brand portfolio centered on its flagship Crocodile brand (since 1963), selling casualwear, functional urban wear, and acquired international brands through directly operated stores, department stores, GMS self-managed floors, outlets, and e-commerce across Japan, targeting adult fashion-conscious consumers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Casual Apparel and Fashion Retail

NAICS

Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers (45811), Apparel Manufacturing (315)

SIC

Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600), Men's & Boys' Furnishgs, Work Clothg, & Allied Garments (2320), Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300)

akta.pro primary industry

Men’s Apparel Retail (CRAAABAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Outerwear & Cold-Weather Apparel Manufacturers (CRAAAAAI)

Keywords

• Casual apparel manufacturing
• Men's fashion brands
• Women's casualwear
• Brand-licensed apparel
• Direct retail fashion

Headquarters

HQ city

Higashi-osaka

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Apparel Products: Casualwear-focused apparel product planning, manufacturing, and sales. Core brands include Crocodile, Crocodile Ladies, Switch Motion Crocodile, Crocodile Code, CITERA, Penfield, and Lightning Bolt. Products sold through directly operated stores, department stores, GMS, e-commerce, and outlets.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Yamato International plans, manufactures, and sells casualwear apparel across a multi-brand portfolio anchored by the flagship Crocodile brand (founded 1963). Its lineup includes men's casualwear (Crocodile), women's lines (Crocodile Ladies, Switch Motion Crocodile, Crocodile Code), functional urban wear (CITERA), and licensed/acquired international brands (Penfield, Lightning Bolt). Products are distributed through directly operated stores, department stores, GMS self-managed floors, outlets, pop-ups, and official e-commerce sites.

Product overview

Yamato International operates as an apparel company with a multi-brand portfolio centered around its core Crocodile brand (established 1963) and expanded through sub-brands, acquired international brands, and proprietary labels. The core Crocodile brand serves the adult market with TPO-conscious casual wear, supported by the Crocodile Ladies women's line, Switch Motion Crocodile performance sports line, and Crocodile Code smart wear extension. International brands include American outdoor fashion brand Penfield (acquired 2017) and Hawaiian surf brand Lightning Bolt (acquired 2018). The company also operates CITERA as a functional wear brand for urban commuters. The company is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Standard Market (code 8127).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• クロコダイル (Crocodile): Core brand offering men's and ladies casual wear for 'adult TPO' (Time, Place, Occasion) smart styling. Launched in 1963 as a men's casual brand and expanded to ladies lines.
• クロコダイルレディス (Crocodile Ladies)
• スウィッチモーション クロコダイル (Switch Motion Crocodile)
• クロコダイル コード (Crocodile Code)
• シテラ (CITERA)
• ペンフィールド (Penfield)
• ライトニングボルト (Lightning Bolt)

Products and services

• Crocodile (クロコダイル) The company's flagship men's casual wear brand founded in 1963, offering classic and modern styles for adults who value appropriate dress for time, place, and occasion (TPO), following the 'French touch British Trad' brand philosophy. Sold through directly operated stores, department stores, GMS, outlets, and e-commerce.
• Crocodile Ladies (クロコダイルレディス) Women's line of the Crocodile brand launched in 2002, extending the TPO-appropriate adult casualwear concept to female consumers.
• Switch Motion Crocodile (スウィッチモーション クロコダイル) New ladies line launched in 2005, featuring Performance Sport Mix style that balances functionality with social appropriateness for health-conscious, light sports enthusiasts.
• Crocodile Code (クロコダイル コード) Brand extension launched in July 2021 as part of the Crocodile rebranding initiative, offering smart contemporary styles for adults.
• CITERA (シテラ) Men's functional wear brand launched in September 2016, designed for creative urban commuters who continue moving, featuring practical clothing for commuting that transitions between work and active lifestyles.
• Penfield (ペンフィールド) American outdoor fashion brand whose trademark rights were acquired in March 2017, offering outdoor and lifestyle apparel for consumers seeking versatile outdoor-inspired clothing.
• Lightning Bolt (ライトニングボルト) Hawaiian casual surf brand whose trademark rights were jointly acquired in March 2018, offering surf-inspired casual wear for lifestyle consumers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Crocodile brand member count exceeded 1 million
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Keikyu Corporation / Ota Ward / Treasure Foot Co., Ltd.minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 November 2025Collaboration for 'Tsunagari no Ennichi' community festival at Omori Furusato Beach Park, featuring Crocodile product sales and upcycling workshops.
• Shikibow Co., Ltd. / New Naigaiwata Co., Ltd. (彩生)coreTechnology or Integration · 6 November 2024Upcycling partnership using '彩生' (Saisei) system to transform回收 clothing and manufacturing scraps into new products such as towel handkerchiefs. First upcycle towel handkerchief completed November 2024, second edition March 2026.
• Smiley Earth Co., Ltd. (スマイリーアース)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2022Partnership for Uganda organic cotton promotion. Yamato uses cotton from northern Uganda supporting local farmers and peacebuilding efforts. Smiley Earth grants use of 'Pearl of Africa' logo for certified products.
• Infiniuum Japan Co., Ltd.minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2010Joint community cleaning activities (Yamate Clean Day) conducted at Tokyo headquarters location. Companies collaborate on environmental initiatives and employee engagement.
• Barneys New YorkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCITERA brand conducted multiple pop-up stores at Barneys New York locations including Ginza, Roppongi, Yokohama, Kobe, and Fukuoka stores since 2020.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Ralph Lauren: Global heritage lifestyle apparel brand with multi-channel wholesale, DTC, and licensing model; comparable to Crocodile in 'adult TPO' positioning and brand-extension architecture.
• Lacoste: Global heritage men's and women's casualwear brand with croc identity, similar to Crocodile's TPO-appropriate adult casualwear positioning and brand-heritage appeal.
• Fast Retailing: Parent of Uniqlo and other Japanese/global apparel brands; the dominant Japanese apparel incumbent whose casualwear value proposition frames the competitive ceiling for mid-cap players like Yamato.

Direct peers

• World Co., Ltd. Mid-cap Japanese apparel platform operating multiple proprietary and licensed brands through retail, wholesale, and e-commerce in Japan; closest size and channel-mix analogue to Yamato.
• Onward Holdings: Japanese multi-brand apparel company managing heritage and contemporary labels across men's, women's, and lifestyle categories via wholesale and DTC channels, structurally comparable to Yamato's multi-brand portfolio strategy.
• United Arrows: Select-shop retailer and brand operator in Japan curating heritage and contemporary apparel across men's and women's; competes with Yamato's Crocodile stores for similar TPO-conscious adult customers.
• Sanyo Shokai: Heritage Japanese apparel company known for outerwear and Burberry/Lacoste licensing in Japan; competes with Yamato's outerwear and heritage casualwear ranges.
• Brooks Brothers: Multi-channel heritage casualwear and dress shirt retailer with global presence; comparable to Yamato in men's casualwear heritage, multi-brand portfolio expansion, and wholesale-plus-DTC channel mix.
• TSI Holdings: Japanese apparel holding company with a portfolio of casualwear, ladieswear, and outdoor brands sold through department stores and DTC; comparable to Yamato in brand-portfolio breadth and domestic channel mix.

Regional players

• Samantha Thavasa: Japanese fashion house with strong ladies' casualwear and accessory retail presence; relevant comparable for Yamato's Crocodile Ladies line within Japan's ladies' apparel segment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/crocodile.jp
• Instagraminstagram.com/crocodile_jp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Yamato International