“In Japanese cities, space is at a premium. So convenience stores that cram everything from Kleenex to rice balls into a few square yards are everywhere. You can’t walk five minutes in most cities without running into one or two or even half a dozen.

But they’re not just a place for Slurpees and snacks. Nearly 27 percent of Japan’s population is now 65 or older, and convenience stores are changing to serve this growing market.

Case in point is a Lawson convenience store in the city of Kawaguchi, north of Tokyo. It sells products that an American consumer would never find tucked between the aspirin and the candy bars. For example, there’s a whole rack of ready-to-heat meals in colorful pouches. They’re rated at levels from 1 to 5, based on how hard it is to chew what’s inside.”

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