JAPAN, Oct 9 — In Japan more is at stake than money in the mammoth takeover battle for 7-Eleven, the world’s biggest convenience chain, by Canadian retail giant Alimentation Couche-Tard.

It is a litmus test for government efforts to shake up corporate Japan, experts say, and one that may put more firms in the sights of foreign buyers.

The chain is a ubiquitous lifeline for an ageing population in Japan and a cherished one-stop shop for everything from egg sandwiches to concert tickets.