June 9 (Reuters) - Starbucks ( SBUX ) is weighing options

for its Japanese business, including a stake sale, Bloomberg

News reported on Tuesday.

A stake sale might be valued at ¥400 billion ($2.5 billion)

to ¥500 billion, possibly attracting interest from other

industry players and private equity firms, the report added,

citing people familiar with the matter.

Starbucks ( SBUX ) did not immediately respond to Reuters' request

for a comment outside regular business hours. Reuters could not

immediately verify the report.

In 2014, the company bought the remaining stake in Starbucks

Coffee Japan Ltd, which had operated as a joint venture between

Starbucks ( SBUX ) and its partner, Sazaby League, since 1995.

The Seattle-based coffee chain closed its deal with Boyu Capital

to ​sell control of its Chinese operations in April, valuing the

business at $4 billion.

Starbucks ( SBUX ) posted its strongest quarterly sales growth in two and

a half years in April, but as costs rise faster under CEO Brian

Niccol's turnaround strategy, questions remain as to how quickly

profit margins can recover.

($1 = 160.3300 yen)