Japan's biggest electronics trade show kicked off Tuesday, offering a future peek at how the latest technologies can be integrated into everyday living. This year's CEATEC (Combined Exhibition of Advanced Technologies) at Makuhari Messe in Chiba Prefecture is still making a push to cast off the image of being just a home electronics hardware exhibition. Featuring 725 firms and organizations, up by 58 from last year and with 345 new entrants, all are eager to show off a preview of their possible future business models by combining services with hot technological trends such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality and the "internet of things." Convenience store chain Lawson Inc., joining CEATEC for the first time, demonstrated some concepts of its next-generation store. For instance, visitors can shop at its pop-up store, which uses a QR code payment system, in the convention hall.