Lawson Reimagines the Konbini with AI, Avatars, and Automation
A new Lawson store in Tokyo’s Minato Ward might just give us a glimpse into the future of everyday shopping. Located in the sleek Takanawa Gateway City complex, this high-tech store isn’t just another branch of the popular Japanese convenience chain, it’s a smart store powered by artificial intelligence, digital tools, and even robots.
The futuristic shop is the result of a partnership between telecom giant KDDI and trading company Mitsubishi Corporation. Both now co-own Lawson and are using this new flagship store to test out how technology can improve shopping and reduce the workload for staff, a much-needed move in Japan’s aging, labor-strapped economy.
Inside the store, digital signage lines the shelves, and AI-powered cameras track the items that shoppers pick up. These smart cameras can suggest discounts and product recommendations on the spot. If you tap on a price tag, a short video will play with details about the product, even touching on social or sustainability issues tied to it.
Robots also have their place here. They’re in charge of restocking drink shelves and even cooking Lawson’s famous Karaage-kun fried chicken. Meanwhile, checkout counters have virtual avatars instead of live staff. These AI characters help customers during checkout and even verify age when selling alcohol or tobacco.
Lawson President and CEO Sadanobu Takemasu says the goal is to introduce helpful tech across more branches, aiming to ease employee workloads by 30% by the year 2030.
Lawson’s tech shift has been years in the making. Back in 2019, the company entered into a business alliance with KDDI. That partnership deepened in 2024 when KDDI acquired more Lawson shares, resulting in both KDDI and Mitsubishi now holding equal ownership in the company.
This store is more than a flashy showcase. It’s a testbed for how convenience stores could operate in the coming years, where shopping feels seamless, information is right at your fingertips, and human staff get a helping hand from machines.
Photo by Siddhesh Mangela on Unsplash
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