Tobacco market in Japan - statistics & facts
Japan used to be referred to as a smokers’ paradise, where lenient tobacco control regulations and low retail prices for a packet were low barriers to lighting a stick. Through its ties to the Government of Japan via the Ministry of Finance which also benefits from the high tax revenues, the tobacco industry flourished in a regulated but in large parts unrestricted market with paper-rolled cigarettes at its center. But the last decade brought drastic changes in domestic smoking regulations as Japan faced pressure from outside during its function as a host to several international sporting events, with the media spotlight focused on the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Health concerns revolving around passive smoking resulted in tighter regulations on smoking in public. While it did not necessarily translate into large-scale smoking cessations, consumer interest in alternatives to the traditional stick revived other product segments.
