News Japanese convenience store pioneer Suzuki Toshifumi dies at 93

thomas · 26 May 2026

Suzuki Toshifumi (鈴木敏文), widely regarded as the father of Japan's convenience store industry, died on 18 May at the age of 93. Suzuki played a central role in bringing the 7-Eleven chain to Japan and later helped turn it into the country's largest convenience store brand. At the time of his death, he was serving as an honorary adviser to Seven & i Holdings, the major Japanese retail group that operates 7-Eleven stores across the country.

He joined the retailer Ito-Yokado in 1963 and was involved in establishing York Seven, which later became Seven-Eleven Japan. The first convenience store in the country was a 7-Eleven that opened in Tokyo's Toyosu area in 1974. Seven & i Holdings, centred on 7-Eleven, has become one of Japan's leading retail groups, encompassing supermarkets, department stores and restaurants. Under Suzuki's leadership, the company introduced a series of new services in convenience stores, including POS (point-of-sale) systems, ATM services, and utility bill payment functions. He stepped down as chairman and CEO in 2016, taking responsibility after a group personnel plan he had led was rejected. He assumed the role of honorary adviser.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/05/25/asia/711-japan-founder-dies-intl-hnk