7-Eleven Japan also got so big that they bought out 7-Eleven USA. But now the Canadian owner of Circle K is bidding to buy 7-Eleven Japan so I guess it's the circle of corporate life.
I cannot even explain why, maybe it it the Nintendo-like jiggles and atmosphere of comfort. We have similar markets where I am from any I know 24/7 chains from around the planet and it isn't really what this is about. The products are not super special either ... still it eminates magic for me and when I went to Taiwan a few years later I was EAGER to enter a Japan-style 7-11.