Retail in Asia

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Japan’s Aeon opens mall geared toward seniors

Japan’s major supermarket chain Aeon Co. opened a shopping center Wednesday in Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture, with a wide array of products and services aimed at seniors, in a move reflective of an increasingly graying society with fewer children.

The company’s first shopping center of its kind started operations as the ratio of people aged 65 or older continues to rise, with people in the age bracket estimated to comprise more than 30 percent of Japan’s total population in about 2 years.

Shohei Murai, Executive Officer of Aeon, told reporters on Wednesday that the company will "continue to respond to the needs of seniors who are becoming increasingly active and diversified."