Japan Economy and the Convenience Stores (Conbini)

Japan has a unique business model that have developed over the past 10 or so years related to the convenience store, called conbini in Japan. The conbini now is a one-stop shopping place that is become an essential part of Japan society and the economy. Go into a modern and new conbini, 7-11, Lawson, Mini-stop, Family Mart etc. and you can probably find any of your daily needs, including fresh food. I often visit a Japan conbini just to see all the fresh food on display that you might get on the go. I have never seen it anywhere else in the world. Also at the conbini you can do a number of things such as banking services, print services, even delivery services from any number of places such as Japan Amazon, which will deliver near to where you live.
Japan conbini stores, like many businesses in Japan are experiencing labor shortages and Japanese young people don't want to work in the conbini and or don't want to work in the night shift 12 to 7 for example. As such companies such as 7-11 are now experimenting with closing during those hours. The Japan conbini was/is known as the 24 hour store whenever you needed something. But because of the labor shortages the 24 hour openings might be gone in the future. Anytime I go into a Japanese conbini I now see international students working at the store, instead of young Japanese students.

© 2019 Tom Metts,  all rights reserved