In 1976, Louis Vuitton desired to open its stores in Japan, a location far away from its Paris origin. Although the financial resources were not enough to establish the Japanese market independently, Louis Vuitton still wanted to maintain full control over its image. How to solve this dilemma made the brand take unique and innovative approaches beyond the common sense of the then existing brand mentality.
In 2003, Hata wrote the widely read book, Louis Vuitton Japan-The Building of Luxury, which was initially published in Japanese but later translated into French and English. The book covers the twenty eight years of Hata's experience from the time he joined Louis Vuitton to take over a brand that, at that time, lacked an identity and was little developed in Japan. He turned it into the most sought after brand in Japan. This development was instrumental in giving Louis Vuitton a "new breath of life". This book is full of creative and practical ideas.