SHIRAKAWA, Fukushima Pref. (Kyodo) Many shops in Shirakawa, Fukushima Prefecture, have been forced out of business by large stores and malls on the outskirts of the city.

But one shop is fighting back by using the Internet mall Rakuten Market.

The Tuscany Wine House on the Rakuten portal sells Italian wines and food and was launched in 2001 by Ippei Yoshida, president of Sake Messe Co., a liquor shop in central Shirakawa.