Business · Companies · 4 hrs ago
Lawson CEO says AI should help people keep working
Lawson CEO Sadaharu Takemasu spoke in Tokyo on November 10 at a global business leaders' conference.
He said the company uses AI to help people keep working.
Japan's convenience store sector faced public debate over 24-hour opening in 2019.
The following year, the COVID-19 pandemic brought further challenges, and rising prices are a concern now.
Lawson's headquarters said it would support its franchise operators through difficult periods.
The company introduced a service called AI.CO as part of that support, but further details were not available.
The speech focused on using AI as workplace support; no next steps were stated.
Lawson CEO Sadayuki Takemasu said AI should be used to help people keep working.
He spoke on November 10 at the 28th Nikkei Global Management Forum.
Takemasu said Lawson’s headquarters had pledged to support franchisees through successive challenges.
He cited the 2019 debate over 24-hour convenience-store operations, the COVID-19 pandemic from the following year and current high prices.
- Who
- Sadayuki Takemasu, Lawson’s CEO.
- What
- He said AI should be used to help people keep working.
- When
- November 10, 2026.
- Where
- The 28th Nikkei Global Management Forum in Tokyo.
- Why
- To support people’s ability to work, according to the story headline.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The convenience-store industry faced a social debate over 24-hour operations.
The COVID-19 pandemic began affecting the industry.
Takemasu spoke at the 28th Nikkei Global Management Forum.
- Speaker
- Sadayuki Takemasu
- Company
- Lawson
- Event
- 28th Nikkei Global Management Forum
- Speech date
- November 10, 2026
- Earlier industry debate
- 24-hour operations in 2019
1 source
What people are saying
Headquarters will firmly protect franchisees.