Japanese clothing firm Fast Retailing Co said on Thursday it would open fewer U.S. stores for its core Uniqlo brand this year after a rapid expansion failed to entice customers, leading to a lower-than-forecast annual profit. Fast Retailing, which is seeking to overtake Zara-owner Inditex and H&M as the world's biggest fashion retailer, said it would only open five Uniqlo stores in the United States in the fiscal year that began on Sept. 1, after opening just over three times as many stores last year.