@mwvdragon "The biggest issue is that theyâre hard to staff 24/7 in a country where unemployment is basically zero and no one wants to work a shift until 5 am."

Bit disappointing to see Peter Payne misrepresent this, he ought to know better. 2019's unemployment rate to-date is 2.5%, which maybe not be ridiculously high, but its not "basically zero".

@fence @mwvdragon That, at least, is a fair comment. But I think demographics and the shrinking total labor force is still the main driver for lack of staff. Time was, conbini clerks were part-time students. But now, aside from foreign staff, retirees and the elderly are the next most common sight at the register. You don't see many young college-aged Japanese anymore.