RKF announced the opening of an office in Tokyo, Japan, and the hiring of local expert Kaishu Okada.
The independent real estate firm said Okada will serve as a vice president and business development associate in Japan to facilitate Japanese retail real estate expansion opportunities in the United States.
Okada, who has more than 10 years of commercial real estate experience in Japan, will be based in the Tokyo office and will work directly with RKF Executive Vice President David Friedman, who is based in the firm’s San Francisco office.
Okada will be in charge of sourcing and developing new business opportunities specifically for Japan-based retailers looking to explore, initiate or expand their physical retail presence in the U.S.
“We are delighted with our expansion to Japan and are pleased to welcome Kaishu to RKF,” said Robert K. Futterman, Chairman & CEO of RKF.
“With Okada’s extensive experience and deep knowledge of the business environment and government regulations in Japan, he will help us orchestrate and drive Japanese-based retail expansion in the U.S., creating valuable opportunities for many of Japan’s leading retail and restaurant brands.”
Under Friedman’s lead, RKF has worked extensively as the U.S. retail real estate representative for several Japanese brands, including Round One Entertainment, Gameworks and Marukai Corporation.
The firm also has vast experience working with other international retailers on their entry and expansions in the U.S., including Tomorrowland, Tsurutontan, Topshop, Pret A Manger, Zadig & Voltaire, Orlebar Brown and Michael Hill. Okada is formally educated in the U.S. and Canada, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Keio University. He is a member of the All Japan Real Estate Association. RKF specializes in retail leasing, investment sales and consulting services and has $30 billion in aggregate real estate transactions to its credit.
Headquartered in New York, the company has offices in Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Northern New Jersey, San Francisco and Toronto. RKF operates in Canada as RKF Group Canada Realty.
