Very interesting article on the history. I also first saw these high quality convenience stores in Japan, then after having stayed in Taiwan for a while for a short while thought that the whole worlds 7-11s are like the ones in Taiwan only to be sorely disappointed everywhere I go.

I don't know how the ones Korea are, but for me personally Taiwan seems to be the gold standard of convenience stores. Yes, the average food is a little bit better in Japan, but Taiwan being the Trade capital it used to be has settled with having the best of everywhere.

While in the Japanese ones you get everything Japanese in Taiwan you get the best of everywhere. Award winning chocolate from south America. The best sweet choices from Japan, Germany and elsewhere. The best isotonic drinks from Japan. The best lemonade from the south of Taiwan.