People walk past a 7-Eleven convenience store in Tokyo, Japan, 13 December 2024. The convenience stores of American origin that Japan transformed into a cultural empire within half a century are known as “konbini”, with the first one opening its doors fifty years ago in Tokyo. 7-Eleven entered the country as a US business but transitioned to Japanese ownership in 2005. (Photo by Franck Robichon/EPA)
