One of Japan’s largest operators, Lawson, is investing in new AI technology that it hopes will enhance store productivity, reported The Japan Times. The technology is provided by Lawson’s telecommunications partner KDDI, which jointly owns the company with Mitsubishi, according to the article.

“We’ll roll out Lawson stores that blend the in-person shopping experience with technology,” Lawson President Sadanobu Takemasu said after unveiling the company’s next-generation concept, the “Convenience Store of the Future,” in central Tokyo this past June.

The pilot store features AI-powered cameras that track items as customers pick them up and digital shelf displays make personalized product recommendations in real time.

“For example, if a customer picks up a dessert, the AI recognizes the action and suggests purchasing coffee. If a customer lingers in front of a shelf, the system interprets it as indecision and displays information about top-selling or recommended products onscreen,” wrote Japanese news outlet The Mainichi.

Robots restock beverages and other fast-moving goods to streamline operations. A system that uses AI to forecast store-level demand and recommend order quantities has now been introduced to all stores, easing the workload on franchise owners, according to The Japan Times.

Lawson is reportedly expanding in and outside of Asia, aiming to double its overseas store count to around 14,000 by fiscal 2030, The Japan Times said.

In Tokyo, Lawson operates a singular “Green Lawson” store focused on sustainability. The most unique aspect of the store is the absence of staff. Instead, approximately 30 people work from home operating in-store avatars. The store’s system uses a display, a camera and a microphone so that staff can serve customers remotely. Not only does this help with the problem of labor shortages, it allows people of all ages and abilities to work when they otherwise might not be able to.

Lawson stores were a stop on the Ideas 2 Go store tours in Tokyo during NACS’ 2025 Convenience Summit Asia, where attendees explored the country’s unique foodservice offerings, merchandising techniques and futuristic store technologies and AI applications. Read more takeaways from Japanese operators in “Big Ideas From the NACS Convenience Summit Asia,” in the May 2025 issue of NACS Magazine.

If you’re interested in learning more about Asian convenience store brands in person, registration is now open for NACS’ 2026 Convenience Summit Asia, taking place in Shanghai, China, March 10-12.