Am/pm, one of Japan's major chains, said it will open the store December 19 on a trial basis in Minato ward, an office district in central Tokyo, and will staff it only with women except during the night.

The store, called "Happily," will offer a women's restroom furnished with a dressing table and an aroma fragrance.

Unlike most Japanese convenience stores, there will be no racks of adult men's magazines.

Compared with the average convenience store, am/pm will also provide more full meals, desserts, imported sweets, cosmetics and dietary supplements.

"There are things that women are unsatisfied with at convenience stores, such as more items being meant for men and the toilets.

We've solved those issues," an am/pm spokesman said.

He said the chain hoped to increase female customers as convenience stores, which dot the urban landscape of Japan, generally have 60 per cent male clientele.

The company plans to open two more stores targeting women by the beginning of next year, he said.

It will also open this Friday another convenience store that rents out more than 2 800 DVDs and sells about 1 000 books including business, magazine and comic genres.

The entertainment-heavy convenience store will open in the residential Setagawa Ward, with two more planned to be open soon.

- Nampa-AFP

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