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This month’s selections from The Japan Times

Crooks pick on stores with few workers Late-night establishments ripe targets for robbery

Minoru Matsutani In separate NPA statistics, the STAFF WRITER number of robberies at convenience stores between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. “Gyudon” beef-on-rice restaurants stood at 614 in 2010 and the figure belonging to the Sukiya chain have fluctuated between 468 and 767 in the become a favorite target of robbers. previous 10 years. As of September, The chain’s outlets accounted for there were 43,969 convenience stores, about 90 percent of all gyudon din- according to the Japan Franchise ers that were victims of stickups Association, which compiles the between January and September, numbers from 10 major convenience according to the National Police store chains, including Seven-Elev- Agency. en, Lawson and Family Mart. To counter the situation, Zensho Last year 154 restaurants, includ- Holdings Co., which runs the Sukiya ing gyudon outlets, were held up, chain, will assign at least two work- according to NPA statistics. ers at every outlet by March. There are no statistics for robber- Some restaurants and conve- ies at other likely targets that are nience stores stay open 24 hours to open late, but occasionally have no serve late-night clientele, particu- customers and very few employees, larly taxi drivers and businessmen. including eateries specializing in But their level of employee security “soba” buckwheat noodles and varies, and Sukiya outlets appear ramen. Target: A customer leaves a Sukiya “gyudon” eatery in Minato Ward, Tokyo, in early particularly vulnerable. There are several reasons why November. SATOKO KAWASAKI According to the National Police Sukiya seems to have been singled Agency, out of 71 robberies at gyu- out. The biggest is that many have as convenience stores have at least order to strengthen security, Zensho don restaurants from January to only one worker late at night. The two people on duty at all times. will man every Sukiya outlet with September, 63 targeted Sukiya. The NPA noted in a press release that Lawson and Seven-Eleven spokes- two people by March. Yoshinoya chain had only six, while many Sukiya outlets keep large men said there is enough work late Zensho spokesman Naoya Hiro- Nakau eateries suffered two. amounts of cash and have only one at night, such as checking inventory tani said a Sukiya worker sustained Gyudon restaurants currently cash register, often near the en- and cleaning up in preparation for a minor injury when his outlet was number about 4,200 nationwide, ac- trance. And some outlets are subur- the next day, to justify the added robbed in September, and he is the cording to their websites and media ban and have little foot traffic. payroll. only person hurt this year in connec- reports. Other gyudon restaurants as well Responding to an Oct. 13 NPA tion with a robbery. North Korea ends Japan’s unbeaten run under Zaccheroni

Pyongyang ury of focusing solely on this team failed to click as the hosts took KYODO match.” advantage of the lack of Japanese Japan, which played its last game cohesion. Japan suffered its first defeat under of an Asian Cup-winning year, had North Korea saw World Cup strik- coach Alberto Zaccheroni as the already advanced to the final quali- er Chong Tese depart early in the Asian champion lost 1-0 to 10-man fiers for the 2014 World Cup in Bra- 34th minute, but the absence of the North Korea in a World Cup qualifi- zil from Group C after beating Ta- former Kawasaki Frontale player er on Nov. 15. jikistan 4-0 on Friday, followed by did not hinder the performance of In Japan’s first match in the Uzbekistan’s 1-0 home win over Yun Jong Su’s men, who continued North Korean capital since June North Korea. North Korea, which to control the game. 1989, Pak Nam Chol scored the lone appeared in South Africa last sum- The teams headed into the tunnel goal early in the second half to end mer, was eliminated. with a 0-0 scoreline but parity would the Blue Samurai’s 16-game unbeat- Japan has one match left in third- be short-lived as the North Koreans Surrounded: Japan midfielder Hiroshi en run with Zaccheroni, who took round qualifying on Feb. 29 at home went ahead in the 50th minute. Kiyotake (11) vies for the ball against a trio over after the 2010 World Cup from to Uzbekistan. Pak Kwang Ryong headed down a of North Korea players during a World Cup qualifier in Pyongyang on Nov. 15. North . “It’s a tough defeat to swallow,” Ri Kwang Chon free kick for Pak Korea beat Japan 1-0. KYODO “They played a tough, physical captain said. “I just Nam Chol, who rose over helpless game in circumstances that were feel terrible for all our supporters. defender Yuichi Komano to nod second yellow card, and only then very difficult for us,” Zaccheroni The next qualifying round will be home off the righthand post. did the visitors really start to get said. “They were determined for even tougher so we need to be The deficit forced Zaccheroni to forward. this match after having failed to ready.” turn to his bench two minutes past The North Koreans held on qualify for the next round. A victory The North Koreans poured it on in the hour, when the Italian sent play- through four minutes of injury time over Japan was exactly what they the first half before a deafening maker on for before the stadium erupted in joy, needed to overcome their disap- crowd at the 50,000-seat Kim Il Sung right-back , going to a keeping the Japanese winless in pointment. Stadium. more aggressive 3-4-3 formation. Pyongyang. “Our goal was to reach the next Zaccheroni made six changes to Moments later, Japan went up a Japan hadn’t lost to North Korea round on this two-game road trip, his starting lineup from the victory man as Jong Il Gwan was given his since the 2005 East Asian Champi- which we’ve done. They had the lux- over Tajikistan, and the overhauled marching orders after drawing a onship in South Korea.

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