Overview
- FamilyMart introduced store guidelines instructing staff to quietly guide customers indoors or to their cars during nearby sightings, then lock doors and notify police.
- The chain will run bear-warning messages on digital screens at more than 10,000 stores from Nov. 10, advising customers not to shout and to evacuate inside or to vehicles.
- FamilyMart is distributing bear-repellent spray to selected stores in Hokkaido and Tohoku and will stop outdoor tasks like cleaning when local sightings are reported.
- Lawson is supplying bear-repellent spray to about 100 stores in Hokkaido, Tohoku and North Kanto and is considering issuing deterrent bells to employees after consulting experts.
- Seven-Eleven Japan has told outlets they may suspend operations at their discretion to prioritize the safety of customers and staff.