The number of 24 hr shops is decreasing in Japan

Currently, you can buy everything even in the midnight in Japan. Convenience store is the most extreme one. But this situation become changing.

McDonald, the world-famous burger shop and which start 24 hour opening in 2006, has been decreasing 24 hr shops recently. Royal Host, the popular family restaurant, announced to stop opening 24 hour before January 2017. Yoshinoya, gyudon chain store, also decrease 24 hr stores.

Compared to the other countries, much more 24 hr shops are there in Japan. It is said this is because Japan is a safe place. But the 24 hr shops sometimes become place for homeless and delinquent youths. Actually, about 80% of the burglary in convenience stores are taken place between 0am to 5am from the police department data. In addition 24 hr shops concerns that the employees for the midnight are lacking.

But, why there are still many convenience stores though there are many problems? There is no clear answer for this questions. From my survey, there are two big reasons. One reason is that this system simply earn profits. Regardless of their electric bill and employees' fee, the company still get profit as the cost is not so large because of the cheap salaries. The other reason is their brand images. 24 hr shops, especially convenience stores, sells products a bit higher price than the other shops such as supermarkets. So, convenience stores with not opening 24 hours means they lost their big feature.

The apparent changes are happened other than convenience stores. But "Zensyoren", the commercial committee, pressed they intended to reduce 24 hr shops. I feel so many shops still open in the midnight and there are more disadvantages than advantages. So, this current trend seems good.