Current Role | Founder & CEO, Mercari |
Previous Position | CEO, Unoh |
Key Recognition | Built Japan’s first unicorn | Forbes Japan Entrepreneur of the Year |
Background and Early Foundations
A graduate of Waseda University, Yamada started as a game developer before founding Mercari in 2013. His vision was to create a simple, mobile-first marketplace for Japan’s digital-savvy consumers.
Career Milestones and Impact
Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
2013 | Launched Mercari in Japan |
2018 | Took Mercari public on Tokyo Stock Exchange |
2020 | Mercari expands to US market with millions of downloads |
- Mercari App Downloads: 100M+
- First Japanese startup to reach unicorn status
- Focus: C2C commerce, mobile-first user experience
Leadership Style and Influence
Yamada is known for customer obsession, clean UX, and long-term innovation. His strategic calm and humble nature have helped him scale in one of the world’s toughest tech markets.
Legacy and Future Focus
He redefined second-hand commerce in Japan and is now focused on global expansion and sustainability in digital commerce.
