When Kenji Yamamoto opened the first convenience store in Japan 50 years ago, he didn't even know what to stock on the shelves. “Back then, everything was challenging,” he said. The first ...

Take a stroll through any Japanese city—you'll be hard-pressed to go a few blocks without passing a convenience store. The one-stop shops dot streetscapes everywhere. So ubiquitous are konbini ...

SAPPORO -- Japan's convenience stores are taking on tasks once handled by the dwindling number of local police boxes, instituting measures to respond to emergencies including those involving women ...