us ▁stores ▁have ▁been ▁re brand ed ▁as ▁Family Mart ▁stores ▁as ▁a ▁result ▁of ▁the ▁Family Mart ▁Co . ▁and ▁Un y ▁Group ▁Hold ings ▁Co . ▁mer ger . ▁ ▁History ▁The ▁first ▁Circle ▁K ▁store ▁in ▁Japan ▁opened ▁on ▁March ▁ 1 5 , ▁ 1 9 8 0 ▁in ▁Ten p aku - ku , ▁N ago ya . ▁▁ ▁The ▁first ▁S unk us ▁store ▁opened ▁in ▁A oba - ku , ▁Send ai ▁on ▁July ▁ 2 3 , ▁ 1 9 8 0 . ▁The ▁S unk us ▁chain ▁expanded ▁to ▁Tokyo ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 1 , ▁H ok ka ido ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 2 , ▁Os aka ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 9 ▁and ▁N ago ya ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 2 . ▁ ▁S unk us ▁and ▁Circle ▁K ▁Japan ▁formed ▁an ▁equ ity ▁and ▁business ▁al liance ▁in ▁October ▁ 1 9 9 8 . ▁ ▁The ▁franch iser , ▁S unk us ▁& ▁Associ ates ▁Inc . ▁officially ▁merged ▁with ▁Circle ▁K ▁Japan ▁Co ., ▁Ltd . ▁as ▁of ▁the ▁September ▁ 1 , ▁ 2 0 0 4 ▁fis cal ▁year ▁and ▁was ▁known ▁officially ▁as ▁Circle ▁K ▁S unk us ▁Co ., ▁Ltd ▁( 株 式 会 社 サ ー ク ル K サ ン ク ス ). ▁The ▁two ▁br ands ▁remained ▁separate ▁— ▁convenience ▁stores ▁owned ▁by ▁the ▁company ▁have ▁either ▁a ▁S unk us ▁sign ▁or ▁a ▁Circle ▁K ▁sign . ▁