In the same interview, Mr. Akita also said that MUJI is considering opening an additional one to three stores in the Greater Toronto Area within the next year, which means that Toronto could house between four and six MUJI stores by 2018. Landlords in various other Canadian cities have also confirmed with us that they have been in discussions with MUJI.

MUJI operates 13 American stores, with more to follow as it expands in the US. Of the locations currently open, seven are in the New York City area, three are in the San Francisco Bay area, and three are in southern California. A 10,000 square foot Boston flagship will open on Friday of this week — MUJI's second flagship in North America.

Muji's largest store in North America is at 475 5th Avenue in New York City, totalling 11,650 square feet.

Known for being innovative and its products being affordable and unbranded, MUJI carries various household items, furniture, appliances, stationery and apparel. With hundreds of stores worldwide (over 400 in Japan and about 400 internationally), it saves money by spending little to nothing on market research and advertising. MUJI is short for Mujirushi Ryohin, or no-brand superior items, and was founded in 1980 as the private-label brand of a major supermarket chain (not unlike Canada's Joe Fresh).