News Navigator: Will convenience stores in Japan stop 24-hour operations?
January 15, 2021 (Mainichi Japan) The Mainichi Shimbun answers some common questions readers may have about changes in convenience stores operating hours. Question: Are changes being made to convenience stores operations? Answer: The relationship between convenience store headquarters, which provide the trade name and operational know-how, and their franchise stores has been worsening in recent years. A Japan Fair Trade Commission investigation found cases in which headquarters had refused negotiations with overworked franchise owners to shorten their business hours, along with cases in which franchisees were forced to buy items they didn t want. Eight major convenience store chain operators that were singled out over such problems submitted improvement plans to the Fair Trade Commission last November.