TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's FamilyMart, one of the country's largest convenience store chain operators, said on Tuesday it will open 1,600 stores in Japan in the fiscal year that started on March 1, compared with 1,355 stores in the prior fiscal year.

The company also forecast a 6.2 per cent rise in operating profit in 2014-2015 to 46 billion yen (S$562 million).

Last week, Seven and I Holdings Co, the operator of the world's biggest convenience store chain 7-Eleven, said it would open a record 1,600 stores in Japan this fiscal year despite a sales tax hike on April 1 that is expected to dampen consumer sentiment.