TOKYO - A new Lawson convenience store that opened in Tokyo's Minato Ward on June 23rd is being billed as the first "future convenience store" utilizing AI and other advanced technologies in partnership with telecom giant KDDI. Central to the concept is store management that minimizes human labor. Yet, even as automation accelerates, some businesses are intentionally moving in the opposite direction.
Inside the new ultra-automated store, the backroom bustles with robotic activity. For instance, when beverage shelves start to empty, AI-equipped robots detect the gaps and automatically restock the products, a task previously handled by human employees. In the kitchen, a robot is responsible for cooking Lawson’s popular hot food item, Karaage-kun fried chicken, which has long been a signature product. Lawson has set a target of reducing in-store operations by 30 percent by fiscal 2030 and hopes to expand this model nationwide.
Meanwhile, some businesses are deliberately emphasizing the irreplaceable value of human service. At "Ginza Kagari Main Store," a ramen shop located in central Tokyo, up to 10 staff members serve just 18 seats. Although ticket vending machines are typically installed to reduce the need for staff, Kagari assigns multilingual employees to assist foreign customers, who make up about 90 percent of its clientele, even at the vending machines.
With attentive service as a core feature, the restaurant’s signature dish, "Chicken Paitan Soba," sells for 2,000 yen per bowl, while some premium items exceed 3,000 yen. According to the restaurant manager, "There are things only humans can do, such as offering fine-tuned hospitality. Strong bonds among the staff have also led to lower turnover."
Source: TBS
