Japan's convenience stores are quietly taking on responsibilities once handled by neighbourhood police, responding to thousands of emergencies involving women and children each year as the country's network of local police boxes continues to diminish.
A report by Mainichi Shimbun highlights how workers from 7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart, along with smaller local chains, now often face extreme choices during emergencies—situations that have sparked debate over whether store staff should bear such heavy responsibilities when it comes to community safety.
