Designer denim and AI concierges: Japan's konbini put a new face forward

RetailFamilyMart tries on denim jackets; Lawson lends a hand to depopulated townsInside FamilyMart's Famima Park Azabudai. The new-format flagship store, which opened in July, has enlisted the streetwear mogul Nigo as its creative director. (Photo by Yuki Kohara)YUKA KONISHIAugust 18, 2026 11:01 JSTTOKYO -- Japanese convenience store operators are launching new formats, turning themselves into apparel purveyors and community hubs as they seek to feed new demand in a saturated market.