McDonald's Japan sales top historic mark

McDonald's says it likely will become the first restaurant chain in Japanese history to surpass a half-trillion yen, or $5.6 billion, in yearly sales.

Officials of McDonald's Holdings Co. Japan says sales are likely to top 500 billion yen in the 2008 business year, 37 years after the first golden arches was opened in Tokyo's Ginza district, Kyodo, the Japanese news agency, reported Saturday.

The sales figures cover some 3,754 restaurants, including outlets directly controlled by McDonald's and those at franchise shops.