Japan's Konbini convenience stores coming to the U.S.

By Anthony Kuhn

Published September 27, 2025 at 4:15 PM CDT

In Japan, Konbini convenience stores have become part of the country's infrastructure, offering fresh meals delivered several times a day, tickets to concerts and museums, and even services like bill payments. Now the model is coming to the U.S., where critics question whether it will resonate with American customers.

Anthony Kuhn

Anthony Kuhn is NPR's correspondent based in Seoul, South Korea, reporting on the Korean Peninsula, Japan, and the great diversity of Asia's countries and cultures. Before moving to Seoul in 2018, he traveled to the region to cover major stories including the North Korean nuclear crisis and the Fukushima earthquake and nuclear disaster.