This is from vague memory, but I believe all franchise convenience stores in Japan are run as family businesses. From what I recall, the company demands a strong personal commitment as a condition for getting the franchise. I suppose that's similar to Caterpillar or Chick-fil-A in the USA.
This is how it works if you want to run a 7-11 in china, which I believe is run by Japanese 7-11 corporate. Even though the Japanese 7-11 now owns the American one, I think they franchise differently in the states.
