Smoking is allowed in Japan but subject to regulatory controls. Under these regulatory framework, cigarettes are regulated as tobacco products which allows them to be sold through retail outlets, online platforms, and vending machines. Importation of cigarettes for trade is allowed with a license. However, health warnings on packaging are required, the minimum legal age for purchase is 20 years, and there are legal restrictions on smoking in public places. Not all forms of tobacco advertising are banned which indicates a partial advertising control framework. Cigarettes in Japan are taxed at a total rate of 59.90%, including an excise tax rate of 50.81%.
Smoking is a public health concern in Japan. In 2024, there were approximately 16.9 million current smokers in the country, corresponding to an adult smoking prevalence of 15.4%. In the same year, smoking prevalence was notably higher among males (24.2%) than among females (7.1%). Smoking current prevalence was reported to be 16.8% in 2022. In 2021, smoking contributed to 142,775 deaths in Japan, including 119,843 deaths among males and 22,932 among females. This indicates that overall, tobacco smoking accounted for 9.93% of all deaths in the country in 2021, representing 16.21% of all male deaths and 3.28% of all female deaths. These figures underscore the ongoing health burden associated with smoking in Japan.
Prevalencia
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 24.3 million | 1A |
| 2024 | 16.9 million | 1B |
- (1) WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, third edition. (2019). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-global-report-on-trends-in-prevalence-of-tobacco-use-2000-2025-third-edition. (2) Department of Economic and Social Affairs (Ed.). (2019). World Population Prospects 2019 (Online Edition Rev. 1.; Population Division). United Nations. https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
- WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 21.9% | 1A |
| 2020 | 17.9% | 1B |
| 2022 | 16.8% | 1C A |
| 2022 | 19.4% | 1D B |
| 2024 | 15.4% | 1E |
- WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, third edition. (2019). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-global-report-on-trends-in-prevalence-of-tobacco-use-2000-2025-third-edition.
- WHO. (2021). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, fourth edition (4th ed). World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/348537
- WHO. (2024). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2030. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240088283
- Odani, S., & Tabuchi, T. (2022). Prevalence and denial of current tobacco product use: Combustible and heated tobacco products, Japan, 2022. Preventive Medicine Reports, 30, 102031. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2022.102031
- WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
- Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
- 2022 Japan Society and New Tobacco Internet Survey (JASTIS)
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 10.5% | 1A |
| 2020 | 8.1% | 1B |
| 2022 | 7.7% | 1C A |
| 2022 | 10.5% | 1D B |
| 2024 | 7.1% | 1E |
- WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, third edition. (2019). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-global-report-on-trends-in-prevalence-of-tobacco-use-2000-2025-third-edition.
- WHO. (2021). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, fourth edition (4th ed). World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/348537
- WHO. (2024). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2030. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240088283
- Odani, S., & Tabuchi, T. (2022). Prevalence and denial of current tobacco product use: Combustible and heated tobacco products, Japan, 2022. Preventive Medicine Reports, 30, 102031. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2022.102031
- WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
- Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
- 2022 Japan Society and New Tobacco Internet Survey (JASTIS)
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 33.2% | 1A |
| 2020 | 28.3% | 1B |
| 2022 | 26.5% | 1C A |
| 2022 | 28.7% | 1D B |
| 2024 | 24.2% | 1E |
- WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, third edition. (2019). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-global-report-on-trends-in-prevalence-of-tobacco-use-2000-2025-third-edition.
- WHO. (2021). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, fourth edition (4th ed). World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/348537
- WHO. (2024). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2030. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240088283
- Odani, S., & Tabuchi, T. (2022). Prevalence and denial of current tobacco product use: Combustible and heated tobacco products, Japan, 2022. Preventive Medicine Reports, 30, 102031. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2022.102031
- WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
- Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
- 2022 Japan Society and New Tobacco Internet Survey (JASTIS)
- WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
- 1. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2017, Country profiles http://www.who.int/tobacco/surveillance/policy/country_profile/en/ 2. Calculation based on population size data of people over 15 years of age (16+). Source of population data: World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
- WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2017, Country profiles http://www.who.int/tobacco/surveillance/policy/country_profile/en/
- These rates are modelled using all national survey data published since 1990 to estimate the underlying prevalence trends by sex, then applying age-standardization to allow comparison with other countries. They do not necessarily resemble country data from 2015 World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
- These rates are modelled using all national survey data published since 1990 to estimate the underlying prevalence trends by sex, then applying age-standardization to allow comparison with other countries. They do not necessarily resemble country data from 2015
Mortalidad
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 157,810 | 1A |
| 2021 | 142,775 | 1B A |
- The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
- Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
- Number of tobacco-related deaths in the population in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 32,109 | 1A |
| 2021 | 22,932 | 1B A |
- The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
- Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
- Number of tobacco-related deaths in the population in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 125,701 | 1A |
| 2021 | 119,843 | 1B A |
- The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
- Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
- Number of tobacco-related deaths in the population in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 15.57% | 1A |
| 2021 | 9.93% | 1B A |
- The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
- Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
- Percentage of tobacco-related deaths to deaths from all causes in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 4.9% | 1A |
| 2021 | 3.28% | 1B A |
- The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
- Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
- Percentage of tobacco-related deaths to deaths from all causes in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 18.3% | 1A |
| 2021 | 16.21% | 1B A |
- The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
- Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
- Percentage of tobacco-related deaths to deaths from all causes in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
- Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
- Number of tobacco-related deaths in the population in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
- Percentage of tobacco-related deaths to deaths from all causes in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
Promoción de productos
- WHO. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-jpn.pdf?sfvrsn=acd22c8a_3&download=true. Accessed: 26 November 2025.
Regulación
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 8.80 | 2A A |
| 2014 | 8.90 | 2A A |
| 2014 | 12.70 | 2A A |
| 2014 | 6.70 | 2A A |
| 2014 | 9.20 | 2A A |
| 2014 | 8.90 | 2A A |
| 2014 | 10.00 | 2A A |
| 2014 | 9.40 | 2A A |
| 2014 | 9.40 | 2A A |
| 2014 | 9.60 | 2A A |
| 2014 | 8.70 | 2A A |
| 2014 | 10.20 | 2A A |
| 2015 | 10.90 | 2B B |
| 2015 | 8.30 | 2A A |
| 2015 | 8.30 | 2A A |
| 2015 | 8.90 | 2A A |
| 2015 | 11.70 | 2B B |
| 2015 | 9.20 | 2A A |
| 2015 | 9.20 | 2A A |
| 2015 | 9.30 | 2A A |
| 2015 | 11.90 | 2B B |
| 2015 | 9.80 | 2A A |
| 2015 | 9.20 | 2A A |
| 2015 | 9.20 | 2A A |
| 2015 | 11.60 | 2B B |
| 2015 | 9.40 | 2A A |
| 2015 | 8.60 | 2A A |
| 2015 | 9.90 | 2A A |
| 2016 | 10.50 | 2B B |
| 2016 | 8.10 | 2A A |
| 2016 | 8.40 | 2A A |
| 2016 | 10.60 | 2A A |
| 2016 | 11.30 | 2B B |
| 2016 | 8.00 | 2A A |
| 2016 | 8.70 | 2A A |
| 2016 | 8.80 | 2A A |
| 2016 | 11.60 | 2B B |
| 2016 | 9.00 | 2A A |
| 2016 | 9.30 | 2A A |
| 2016 | 8.70 | 2A A |
| 2016 | 11.10 | 2B B |
| 2016 | 8.60 | 2A A |
| 2016 | 8.30 | 2A A |
| 2016 | 9.60 | 2A A |
| 2017 | 9.30 | 2B B |
| 2017 | 7.10 | 2A A |
| 2017 | 7.40 | 2A A |
| 2017 | 8.50 | 2A A |
| 2017 | 9.50 | 2B B |
| 2017 | 7.70 | 2A A |
| 2017 | 8.20 | 2A A |
| 2017 | 8.00 | 2A A |
| 2017 | 9.40 | 2B B |
| 2017 | 7.90 | 2A A |
| 2017 | 8.10 | 2A A |
| 2017 | 7.50 | 2A A |
| 2017 | 8.40 | 2B B |
| 2017 | 7.50 | 2A A |
| 2017 | 7.00 | 2A A |
| 2017 | 8.00 | 2A A |
| 2018 | 7.50 | 2B B |
| 2018 | 6.10 | 2A A |
| 2018 | 6.20 | 2A A |
| 2018 | 7.20 | 2A A |
| 2018 | 7.90 | 2B B |
| 2018 | 6.70 | 2A A |
| 2018 | 7.10 | 2A A |
| 2018 | 7.00 | 2A A |
| 2018 | 8.70 | 2B B |
| 2018 | 7.10 | 2A A |
| 2018 | 7.30 | 2A A |
| 2018 | 9.40 | 2A A |
| 2018 | 6.60 | 2B B |
| 2018 | 4.90 | 2A A |
| 2018 | 6.10 | 2A A |
| 2018 | 6.80 | 2A A |
| 2019 | 6.60 | 2B B |
| 2019 | 5.90 | 2A A |
| 2019 | 5.70 | 2A A |
| 2019 | 6.30 | 2A A |
| 2019 | 7.00 | 2B B |
| 2019 | 6.60 | 2A A |
| 2019 | 6.60 | 2A A |
| 2019 | 6.20 | 2A A |
| 2019 | 7.30 | 2B B |
| 2019 | 6.70 | 2A A |
| 2019 | 6.60 | 2A A |
| 2019 | 6.80 | 2A A |
| 2019 | 5.80 | 2A A |
| 2024 | 82.84 | 2C C |
- JTI: Japanese Domestic Cigarette Sales Results.
- PMI Quarterly Earnings Report
- JTI: Japanese Domestic Cigarette Sales Results and PMI Quarterly Earnings Report
- monthly
- quarterly
- per year
- WHO. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-jpn.pdf?sfvrsn=acd22c8a_3&download=true. Accessed: 26 November 2025.
- JTI: Japanese Domestic Cigarette Sales Results and PMI Quarterly Earnings Report
- There are certain restrictions in place.
- per year
Disponibilidad
- WHO. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-jpn.pdf?sfvrsn=acd22c8a_3&download=true. Accessed: 26 November 2025.
- World Integrated Trade Solution. World Bank. Cigarettes containing tobacco imports by country in 2023. Available at: https://wits.worldbank.org/trade/comtrade/en/country/ALL/year/2023/tradeflow/Imports/partner/WLD/product/240220. Accessed: 27 November 2025.
- There are certain restrictions in place.
- An import license is required.
Regulaciones y restricciones
- WHO. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-jpn.pdf?sfvrsn=acd22c8a_3&download=true. Accessed: 26 November 2025.
- Restrictions exist in most public places such as healthcare facilities and unviersites.
Impuesto
- WHO. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-jpn.pdf?sfvrsn=acd22c8a_3&download=true. Accessed: 26 November 2025.
- 0.51
- Total taxation rate: 59.90%