Seven & i Holdings' Suzuki, pioneer of Japan convenience stores, dies at 93

TOKYO - Toshifumi Suzuki, an honorary adviser to Seven & i Holdings Co. who pioneered Japan's convenience store industry, died of heart failure on May 18, the company said Monday. He was 93.

The company's charismatic former chairman and chief executive officer was credited with bringing the 7-Eleven brand to Japan and growing it into one of the most successful convenience store chains in the world.