Photo/Illutration Participants take part in a meeting on Sept. 19 to form a support group for Mitoshi Matsumoto, a former owner of a Seven-Eleven Japan convenience store in Higashi-Osaka. (Daisuke Ikuta)

OSAKA--A support group formed here on Sept. 19 for the former owner of a Seven-Eleven Japan store who lost his franchise contract for opposing the company’s 24-hour store policy isn’t putting the issue to bed.

Mitoshi Matsumoto, 59, captured nationwide attention in February 2019 when he started closing his Higashi-Osaka outlet late at night because of difficulties in finding staff to work the graveyard shift.

The support group will not only help Matsumoto in his legal battles with Seven-Eleven Japan, but also work to improve the economic standing of other convenience store franchise owners.

After Matsumoto decided to close his outlet for a few hours late at night, Seven-Eleven Japan headquarters canceled his franchise contract on the grounds that many of his customers had complained about his rude service.

In February, Matsumoto filed a lawsuit seeking to secure his position as an outlet owner as well as compensation for damages from Seven-Eleven Japan.

The meeting held on Sept. 19 to kick off the support group was attended by about 100 of the 300 members from around Japan, including other former outlet owners.

Kenji Utsunomiya, a former president of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, was selected to head the support group.

Matsumoto said at the gathering, “I want to continue with efforts to promote stable outlet management (for managers around Japan) without having to face any pressure from headquarters in the form of threats to cut off their contracts.”

Shinro Okawa, Matsumoto’s lawyer, called into question whether a business model predicated on an around-the-clock operation with no days off could be considered appropriate for any human.

“The outcome of our lawsuit will affect all outlet owners in Japan,” Okawa said. “I believe the role of this support group is to gain the understanding of the public about this major social issue and to change the nature of convenience stores that have become a part of the social infrastructure.”

Meanwhile, Seven-Eleven Japan headquarters has filed lawsuits of its own demanding that Matsumoto turn over the outlet.

It has also argued in court that Matsumoto has damaged the company’s trust and brand image by criticizing headquarters and using abusive words and deeds toward his customers that were the source of the many complaints submitted to headquarters.

Related News