Daiei founder Isao Nakauchi was born on August 2, 1922, in Hyogo Prefecture.
After graduating from high school, he joined Japan Cotton Trading Co. (now Nichimen) in 1942. However, he was drafted the following year and sent to Manchukuo, the Soviet Union, and the Philippines. He was seriously injured but miraculously survived, and after returning home, he ran a pharmacy in Kobe. He expanded the business and founded Daiei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (now Daiei). In 1957, he opened the first "Daiei Housewife's Store" store in Osaka. His style of selling pharmaceuticals and food at low prices revolutionized the distribution industry.
In the 1970s, he worked hard to expand the group, developing convenience stores such as "Lawson," department stores such as "Printemps Ginza," and the hamburger chain "Wendy's." By 1980, annual sales exceeded 1 trillion yen, making him the number one retailer in Japan. Although he served as CEO of 300 affiliated companies and 100,000 employees, the company faced a management crisis due to massive debts and sluggish sales. He resigned as a director in May 2001.

In his later years, he devoted himself to running the University of Marketing and Distribution Sciences, which he had established with his own personal funds. He passed away in September 2005 at the age of 83.