19.4% of the adult population are current smokers
There are approximately 21.2 million current smokers in Japan
28.7% of men are current smokers but only 10.5% of women
Smoking in Japan
There has been a downward trend in current smoking prevalence in the general population in Japan. Smoking prevalence declined from 32% in 2000 to 21% in 2015, declining further to 19.4% in 2022. There are 21.2 million current smokers in Japan as of 2022. Male smoking prevalence has significantly declined over the last two decades, from 51% in 2000 to 33% in 2015, further decreasing to 28.7% as of 2022. Women’s smoking prevalence has also declined (albeit from a lower initial prevalence than men), from 13% in 2000 to 10% in 2015, with a slight increase to 10.5% in 2022.
Nicotine vaping products are regulated as medicinal products and cannot be legally sold, but they can be imported for personal use. Vaping prevalence amongst adults was 1.9% as of 2017. 11.7% of the general population have tried vaping at least once.
The use of heat-not-burn devices (HTP) has blossomed in the absence of legal nicotine vaping products, with 12.9 million current users of heat-not-burn devices in 2022. This equates to a prevalence of use of HTP of 11.8%. Heated-not-burn devices are included in smoking restrictions in public places, however in practice heat-not-burn devices are allowed in some public spaces.
The situation is more complicated for oral nicotine products: snus is legal to use and to buy, and can be marketed, however nicotine pouches are banned and cannot be legally marketed. Nicotine replacement therapies (including gums and patches) can be purchased without prescription and can be legally marketed, with a total market size of 77.7 million €.
Deaths
157810 people die every year due to tobacco smoking in Japan.
Market size of NRT.
NRT market size is estimated to be 77.7 million €.
Nicotine Vaping Devices
in Japan
In Japan it is illegal to sell nicotine-containing e-cigarettes as they are categorised as medicinal products, and as of yet none have been approved in this manner. However, Japanese vapers can import up to one month's supply of nicotine-containing e-cigarettes for their own individual use. E-cigarettes without nicotine are not regulated. Restrictions on vaping indoors in public places exist. The prevalence of current e-cigarette vaping among adults is 1.9%. 11.4% of the population have ever tried e-cigarette vaping.
Heated Tobacco Products
in Japan
In Japan, heated tobacco products are regulated by the amended Health Promotion Act. The amendments to the Act define smoking to include smoke or vapour from burned or heated tobacco, and therefore heated tobacco products are included in the smoking ban stipulated by the amendments. Smoking is completely banned in schools, hospitals, children’s facilities, government facilities, passenger cars, and planes. However, in practice, use of heated tobacco products is allowed in other public places such as restaurants and passenger ships and trains. The tax on heated tobacco products is currently at the same level as pipe tobacco under the Tobacco Tax Act, and sale to minors is restricted in accordance with Article 5 of the Act on Prohibition of Smoking by Minors. Heated tobacco products are also regulated by the Tobacco Business Act.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
in Japan
NRT market size is estimated to be 77.7 million €. In Japan it is legal to purchase nicotine without using NRT prescription. NRT is legal to market. NRT are available in Pharmacy.
Pouches
in Japan
The sale of Pouches is banned. Pouches are illegal to be marketed.