Seven-Eleven Japan resumes operations on May 4 at a temporary outlet, foreground, while the old outlet is surrounded by a fence. (Toyokazu Kosugi) HIGASHI-OSAKA, Osaka Prefecture--A leading convenience store chain locked in an escalating dispute with a former franchise owner who dared to challenge its around-the-clock business model has upped the ante again. Mitoshi Matsumoto incurred the wrath of Seven-Eleven Japan Co. and made national headlines in February 2019 when he decided to close his Seven-Eleven outlet here during the graveyard shift because he couldn’t find people to work those hours. In doing so, he went against the company's long-held business practice of staying open all hours. This led to a legal battle with both sides filing lawsuits seeking compensation.